Karachi to Lahore by rail · Updated

Karachi to Lahore Train Ticket Price, Timings & Online Booking

The Karachi to Lahore train ticket price starts at about Rs 3,750 and reaches Rs 14,850 for a Tezgam or Karachi Express AC Sleeper. Nine trains cover the 1,214 km run in around 18 to 27 hours, depending on how many stops they make. Lahore sits at the far end of the main line through Sindh and southern Punjab, and most trains arrive after a night and most of a day on board.

Economy from: Rs 3,750Seat, cheapest train
AC Standard from: Rs 7,600Khyber Mail, Fareed, Awam
Distance: 1,214 kmCantt to Lahore Junction
Journey time: 18 to 27 hrsDepending on the train
Trains daily: 9All classes available

Short answer: The cheapest Karachi to Lahore train ticket is Rs 3,750 in economy on Khyber Mail, Fareed Express, Allama Iqbal Express or Awam Express. An economy berth on the same trains is Rs 3,850. AC Standard runs Rs 7,600 to Rs 9,900, AC Business Rs 10,950 to Rs 14,600 and an AC Sleeper berth Rs 14,050 to Rs 14,850. Fares do not rise as the date approaches, so booking early secures the berth rather than the price.

Every train, every class

Karachi to Lahore train ticket price

One fare per class per train, set on the Pakistan Railways scale in force since 9 March 2026.

Karachi to Lahore fares by train and class, September 2026
Train	Economy seat	Economy berth	AC Standard	AC Business	AC Sleeper
Khyber Mail	Rs 3,750	Rs 3,850	Rs 7,600	Rs 10,950	Rs 14,050
Fareed Express	Rs 3,750	Rs 3,850	Rs 7,600	Not offered	Not offered
Allama Iqbal Express	Rs 3,750	Rs 3,850	Rs 7,600	Not offered	Not offered
Awam Express	Rs 3,750	Rs 3,850	Rs 7,600	Rs 10,950	Not offered
Tezgam	Rs 4,900	Rs 5,000	Rs 8,700	Rs 11,550	Rs 14,850
Karachi Express	Rs 4,900	Rs 5,000	Rs 8,700	Rs 11,550	Rs 14,850
Karakoram Express	Rs 4,900	Rs 5,000	Rs 9,150	Rs 11,550	Not offered
Pak Business Express	Rs 5,500	Rs 5,600	Rs 9,900	Not offered	Not offered
Green Line	Rs 5,600	Rs 5,700	Not offered	Rs 14,600	Rs 13,200 parlour

Fares in force since 9 March 2026, when economy rose 5 percent and AC classes 10 percent. Confirm at the counter or in the RABTA app before paying.

You are paying for the stops you skip

Distance does not explain the Rs 1,850 spread in economy. Fareed Express calls at 46 stations and takes close to 27 hours. Khyber Mail and Awam Express are long-established rakes with heavy stopping patterns. Tezgam, Karachi Express and Karakoram Express miss out the smaller halts, and Green Line stops fewer than ten times between Karachi and Islamabad. The premium buys hours, not comfort: an economy seat is an economy seat on all nine.

Take the berth, not the seat

An economy berth costs Rs 3,850 against Rs 3,750 for the seat. A hundred rupees turns an 18 to 27 hour seated journey into one where you can lie down. The berth allocation per train is small and it is the first thing to sell out, which makes this the one decision on the route where booking three or four weeks ahead genuinely changes the trip.

Is Green Line worth Rs 1,850 more?

Green Line runs Karachi Cantt to Islamabad Margalla via Lahore with a modern rake, a parlour car and catering. Economy is Rs 5,600 and AC Business Rs 14,600, the highest on the corridor. If you are travelling overnight anyway and arriving in the morning either way, the older trains save real money. If you need to be in Lahore by a set hour, the shorter run and better punctuality record are the reason to pay.

Choosing

Which Karachi to Lahore train should you take?

Three sensible answers depending on what you are optimising for.

Cheapest

Train: Khyber Mail or Awam Express
Economy: Rs 3,750, berth Rs 3,850
Why: Lowest fare tier but both still carry AC Business, so you can upgrade without moving to an expensive train.

Best balance

Train: Tezgam or Karachi Express
Economy: Rs 4,900, AC Sleeper Rs 14,850
Why: Fewer stops, the full range of classes including sleeper berths, and a reputation for keeping closer to the timetable.

Most comfortable

Train: Green Line
Economy: Rs 5,600, AC Business Rs 14,600
Why: The newest rake on the network, a parlour car and the shortest journey. Also the most expensive in every class.

Our pick

For most travellers, Khyber Mail in an economy berth at Rs 3,850 is the best value ticket on the corridor: the lowest fare tier, a place to sleep, and AC Business available on the same train if you change your mind. If the arrival time matters, pay the Rs 1,150 extra for Tezgam and gain several hours. Green Line is worth its premium only if you want AC Business or the parlour car.

Departures

Karachi to Lahore train timings

Departures are spread across the day and evening, so the corridor works as an overnight run or as a full daytime journey.

Morning

Daytime run

Boards Karachi Cantt in the morning and reaches Lahore the following morning.

Afternoon

Overnight

The most common pattern: one night on board, arriving in the Lahore morning or midday.

Evening

Overnight plus

Later departures land in Lahore in the afternoon of the next day.

Add a buffer

3 to 6 hours

Winter fog in Punjab regularly delays main-line trains. Do not plan a same-day connection.

Exact departure times shift when timetables are reissued and when trains change hands, so check the current schedule in RABTA or on 117 rather than an older printed table. Trains bound for Lahore board at Karachi Cantt, with the exception of Fareed Express, which uses Karachi City. This is the commonest mistake on the route and it is not recoverable once you are at the wrong station.

The line

What the journey actually looks like

Karachi CanttDeparture. Fareed Express leaves from Karachi City instead.
Hyderabad JunctionAbout two to three hours in. Rs 370 to Rs 1,800 as a standalone ticket.
Nawabshah and RohriThrough the Sindh plain overnight on most services.
Rahim Yar Khan and BahawalpurSouthern Punjab. The point where most passengers wake up.
Khanewal and SahiwalThe main line runs on through central Punjab; some trains route via Faisalabad instead.
Lahore JunctionArrival. All long-distance services use the Junction.

Two routings, one destination

Most Karachi to Lahore trains run the Khanewal to Sahiwal main line. Karakoram Express normally goes via Faisalabad but is currently being routed through Sahiwal until that section is restored, so if you were counting on boarding at Faisalabad or Chak Jhumra, check the stopping pattern before booking.

Train, bus or flight

The cheapest way from Karachi to Lahore

RailCheapest

Train

Rs 3,750Economy seat, from

Journey time: 18 to 27 hours
Services daily: Nine
Berth: From Rs 3,850

Fixed fares, a berth for a hundred rupees more, generous luggage and room to move. You pay in time and punctuality.

Best for cost, luggage and sleeping on the way.

RoadMiddle

Bus

Rs 5,000 to 9,000By operator and class

Journey time: 18 to 22 hours
Departures: Many daily
Berth: No

More departures and more terminal choices than the train, but no way to lie down on a journey that is long by any measure.

Best when the departure time suits you better.

AirFastest

Flight

Rs 19,000 to 35,000One way economy

Flight time: 1h 45m
Airlines: Four
Baggage: 20 kg, or paid

Five times the economy train fare at best, before transfers at both ends. See Karachi to Lahore flights.

Best only when the day is worth more than the money.

An AC Sleeper berth at Rs 14,050 still undercuts the cheapest flight on this route, and it saves a night’s accommodation on top. That is unusual: on most corridors the premium rail product costs more than the cheapest seat in the air. Karachi to Lahore is long enough that the train wins on price in every class it offers.

Common questions

Karachi to Lahore train FAQs

What is the cheapest Karachi to Lahore train ticket?

Rs 3,750 for an economy seat on Khyber Mail, Fareed Express, Allama Iqbal Express or Awam Express. An economy berth on the same trains costs Rs 3,850.

How long does the train take from Karachi to Lahore?

Between about 18 and 27 hours. Green Line is the quickest; Fareed Express, which calls at 46 stations, is the slowest at close to 27 hours. Add three to six hours in the winter fog season.

How much is AC Sleeper from Karachi to Lahore?

Rs 14,050 on Khyber Mail and Rs 14,850 on Tezgam and Karachi Express. Green Line does not sell an AC Sleeper; its parlour car costs Rs 13,200 and is a seat rather than a berth.

Does booking early make the ticket cheaper?

No. Pakistan Railways sets one fare per class per sector, so the price is the same 90 days out and on the day. Booking early is how you secure an economy berth or an AC Sleeper, both of which sell out first.

Which station do Lahore trains leave from in Karachi?

Karachi Cantt for almost every service. Fareed Express uses Karachi City. Check the station printed on your ticket before you set off.

Is the train cheaper than the bus from Karachi to Lahore?

Yes. Economy costs Rs 3,750 against roughly Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 by coach, and an economy berth at Rs 3,850 gives you somewhere to sleep, which no bus on the route offers.

Related fares

Other routes from Karachi

Trains on this route

Guides

Check what is available before you book

Rail fares are fixed, but berths and AC seats are not always there. Compare train, bus and flight on this route in one place.

Compare fares now