ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways will complete the first phase of its largest-ever digitization program by June 2026, the country’s railways minister said this week, as the state-run operator moves to modernize operations, improve safety and reduce chronic delays across its aging rail network.

The initiative, known as the Railway Advanced Infrastructure Network (RAIN), is a nationwide digital overhaul designed to introduce real-time monitoring, centralized operational control and data-driven decision-making across Pakistan Railways, which has long struggled with safety lapses, service disruptions and financial losses.

The project comes as Pakistan faces sustained pressure to reform loss-making state-owned enterprises under an International Monetary Fund-backed stabilization program, with transport infrastructure seen as critical to improving economic efficiency and public services in a country of more than 240 million people.

Pakistan Railways, once the backbone of long-distance transport in the country, has seen its share of passenger and freight traffic decline over decades due to underinvestment, competition from road transport and repeated safety incidents. Officials say the RAIN project is intended to reverse that trend by modernizing core infrastructure and restoring public confidence in rail travel.

“The RAIN Project will significantly reduce train delays and accidents, enhance passenger services, and improve overall operational efficiency,” Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said, according to an official statement issued after he chaired a review meeting on the project.

According to the railways ministry, Phase-I of the RAIN program will be financed entirely through Pakistan Railways’ own revenue, part of efforts to improve financial discipline and reduce reliance on government subsidies.

The first phase includes the installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking on all trains and locomotives, allowing railway authorities to monitor train movements in real time and respond more quickly to disruptions or emergencies.

It also includes the establishment of command and control centers at Pakistan Railways’ headquarters in Lahore and at all divisional offices, enabling centralized oversight of operations and faster decision-making during accidents or delays.

Another major component is the fiber-optic networking of around 1,700 kilometers of the main ML-1 railway line, Pakistan’s busiest north-south corridor linking major cities and ports, to support high-speed data transmission and digital monitoring systems.

The project further includes the rollout of “safe and smart” railway stations at major hubs, modelled on upgrades already carried out at Rawalpindi station, alongside the provision of high-speed Internet services at selected stations to improve passenger experience and operational coordination.

The railways ministry said additional details on subsequent phases of the digitization program would be announced in due course.