Riding Pakistan's Most Historic Branch Line: Fareed Express Experience۔The Hidden Railway Route

History of the Raiwind–Lodhran Chord / Branch Line Origins & Strategic Purpose: Built during the British colonial era under the North Western Railway (NWR) network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this section was developed to serve southern Punjab’s rich agricultural canal colonies (the Nili Bar and Ganji Bar regions). It runs parallel to the main line (ML-1) via Sahiwal, diverging at Raiwind Junction and rejoining ML-1 at Lodhran Junction, cutting through key historic hubs like Kasur, Kanganpur, Mandi Ahmadabad, Basirpur, Haveli Wasawewala, Pakpattan, Arifwala, Gaggo Mandi, Burewala, Vihari, Mailsi, and Karor Pacca. Economic & Cultural Lifeline: Unlike the high-speed main line, this route was laid to collect grain, cotton, and agricultural output from rural mandis and transport them toward Karachi port and northern Punjab. Pakpattan on this route is globally renowned for the shrine of the Sufi mystic Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, making the branch line a major pilgrim transit route for centuries. Current Status: It remains a single-track, non-electrified line retaining traditional tablet and token signaling at many stations, giving it a vintage railway atmosphere compared to the upgraded main line corridors. History of the Fareed Express (37Up / 38Dn) Naming & Heritage: Named directly in honor of the revered 12th-century Sufi saint and Punjabi poet Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar (Baba Farid) of Pakpattan. It was specifically routed through the branch line so devotees, pilgrims, and residents of southern Punjab's interior towns could travel directly between Lahore and Karachi. Route Profile: Terminals: Lahore Junction ⇄ Karachi City. Route Details: Instead of staying on ML-1 through Sahiwal and Khanewal, Fareed Express diverts at Raiwind onto the branch line via Kasur, Pakpattan, Burewala, Vihari, and Lodhran, before continuing along Rohri, Nawabshah, and Hyderabad to Karachi. Privatization & Operations: Originally operated entirely by Pakistan Railways, Fareed Express was later outsourced to private management under public-private partnership initiatives to improve passenger occupancy, catering, and coach upkeep. It remains one of the few express services keeping the historic Raiwind–Lodhran corridor connected to Pakistan’s two largest metropolitan hubs. #FareedExpress, #PakistanRailways, #RaiwindLodhranBranchLine, #LahoreToBahawalpur, #PakpattanRailway, #BranchLineJourney, #TrainVlog, #RazUncle , #TrainJourney, #RailwayTravel, #Locomotive, #TrainLife, #RailVlog, #VintageRailway, #PakistanTravel, #TrainSpotting, #travel, #railway, #train,