Railways has announced plans to outsource 15 more passenger trains to the private sector and has invited interested companies to participate in the bidding process.
According to officials, Pakistan Railways is continuing its policy of partnering with private operators to improve train services and operational efficiency. The department has published an advertisement seeking bids from eligible companies interested in running selected passenger trains.
An open auction for the trains is scheduled to take place on June 16 at the Pakistan Railways Headquarters in Lahore. During the event, qualified private firms will compete for the opportunity to operate the trains under agreed terms and conditions.
Sources said several companies have already met the eligibility requirements and will be allowed to participate in the bidding process. The trains included in the outsourcing plan are Hazara Express, Awam Express, Karakoram Express, Karachi Express, Millat Express, Fareed Express, Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Ravi Express, Lasani Express, Thal Express, Mianwali Express, Sukkur Express, Narowal Passenger, Sialkot Express, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz Passenger.
This is not the first time Pakistan Railways has attempted to involve the private sector in train operations. In previous outsourcing initiatives, the department offered several trains through open auctions. However, the response from private investors remained limited, with only a small number of trains receiving bids.
Officials noted that while some routes attracted interest from private companies, others failed to receive any offers. As a result, several outsourcing efforts could not be fully implemented.
Sources also recalled that Mianwali Express had previously been handed over to a private company under a similar arrangement. However, the operator later returned the train after running the service for a period of time. The company reportedly cited operational and commercial challenges as reasons for ending the agreement.
Pakistan Railways hopes the latest outsourcing initiative will attract greater private-sector participation and help improve passenger services across the country. The department believes collaboration with private companies can contribute to better service quality, increased efficiency, and improved management of railway operations while reducing financial pressure on the national rail network.
