Lahore, already known for its evolving public transport landscape, is now gearing up to welcome Pakistan’s first-ever electric tram, setting the stage for a cleaner, smarter, and more efficient urban mobility experience.
The sleek, state-of-the-art tram has been imported from China, and is currently under the process of final assembling at the Ali Town Depot.
Advanced digital navigation technology is used in the train
What makes this project unique is that the tram is trackless—it doesn’t need traditional railway lines to operate. Instead, it is utilizing advanced digital navigation technology, which helps the train to run smoothly on the roads.
As a pilot project, the tram will be tested along Lahore’s Canal Road corridor, from Thokar Niaz Baig to Harbanspura.
A formal demonstration for government officials, urban planners, and the media is anticipated at the start of August at the Lahore Expo Centre. Initially, the tram is expected to be manually operated due to various safety concerns, although it has the capacity for autonomous driving.
Read more: CDA launches plan to set up trackless electric tram on four routes of Islamabad
Compartments and capacity of the train
Each tram is endowed with three interconnected compartments, and nearly 200 passengers can easily travel in the train. Powered fully by electricity, and after receiving a charge of just 10 minutes make this train to travel a distance of 27 kilometers—making it not only sustainable but highly efficient.
Punjab’s Transport Minister, Bilal Akbar Khan, gave it the title of a landmark development, saying, “This is the same state-of-the-art technology recently introduced in cities such as Abu Dhabi and parts of China. Lahore might even beat Budapest in launching it.”
Close monitoring by the authorities
Authorities are closely monitoring how the tram integrates with city traffic to decide whether a dedicated lane will be needed. However, expanding roads or cutting trees for this purpose is being avoided to keep environmental and financial costs in check. Other trial routes being considered include Main Boulevard, Gulberg.
If successful, the electric tram system could soon be replicated in Faisalabad and Gujranwala, which is forming the integral component of Punjab’s broader five-year transport modernization strategy approved earlier this year.
Introduction of Automated Rapid Transit System
The larger vision, as articulated by CM Maryam Nawaz, includes introducing Automated Rapid Transit (ART) systems in almost 10 cities. Moreover, it will also provide smart solar-powered stations
- Onboard Wi-Fi
- Passenger-friendly features
Bridge rural-urban divide by improving public transport
This bold step not only clearly manifests a mega tilt toward eco-friendly mobility, but the major aim is to narrow the urban-rural divide by improving public transport access in smaller cities. For Lahoris, the arrival of electric trams offers a glimpse into a
- Greener
- Quieter
- More modern future on the move