The railway network established by the Raj in the area now encompassing Pakistan is rooted in the Great Game. Commencing in 1855 the lines spread north from Karachi, and from Delhi through Lahore to the logistic base of the Northern Army Command at Rawalpindi. By 1878, it had crossed five rivers of the Punjab over massive iron bridges, some a mile-long and bearing names like Kaiser-i-Hind, Empress and Alexandra. Even bigger feats of engineering enabled the lines to cross the mighty Indus at five sites and approach the Afghan border at Chaman and Landikotal across the Khyber Pass. Strengthened over the years, these bridges and railway stations still support the Pakistan Railways and provide the framework for an exciting multifaceted tour with an appeal for railway enthusiasts, civil engineers and Raj buffs.

This is a very fascinating & well-planned tour for railway enthusiasts, civil engineers and Raj buffs. The Punjab Northern State Railway (PNSR) and its successor, the North Western Railways (NWR), built and operated the longest railway network in the sub-continent and was largely rooted in the Great Game.

Commencing in 1855 the lines spread north to Lahore where the tour starts. Lahore is the HQs of the Pakistan Railways and its largest Railway Factory at Mughalpura, both of which we will visit. The two main networks that extended to Lahore were from Karachi, and Delhi and then onwards to the logistic base of the Northern Army Command at Rawalpindi. By 1878, the railways had crossed five rivers of the Punjab over massive iron bridges, some a mile-long and bearing names land title of the British royalty.

Our first journey by train will be southwards from Lahore to Multan from where we take a day’s excursion to see two huge bridges; the Empress Bridge over the River Sutlej which was originally 1400 meters long and the 1 km long double decker road / rail Sher Shah Bridge over the River Chenab. Strengthened over the years, these and many other bridges and railway stations and Junction like Lodhran & Wazirabad (which you will also visit), still support the Pakistan Railways and provide the framework for an exciting multifaceted tour.

On the journey northwards by road, we will visit three more bridges over the Chenab – the Riwaz Bridge near Jhang, the double span Chinot Bridge and the mighty Alexandra Bridge astride the GT Road that was inaugurated by HRH George Albert (Berti), the Prince of Wales in January 1876 and named after his consort.

From Rawalpindi we will have a day’s trip to see the first two of the bridges over the mighty Indus – the Khushalgarh Bridge. One of the highlights of the tour will be travelling on the Attock Khurd Safari Trian that will take us to the double-decker rail / road Attock Bridge over the Indus. On the way we will stop to see the highly acclaimed Golra Railway Museum and while heading to Peshawar, we will visit the Risalpur Railway Factory. From Peshawar we will take a trip up the fabled Khyber Pass and see the remains of the disused Khyber Railway Line that was a feat of engineering. The last leg of our journey is again by train as the retrace our foot now crossing by train some of the bridges we saw heading north.