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Several trains that once ran from India to Pakistan before Partition are still in operation today, some under new names and routes, preserving a shared rail legacy
Although the India-Pakistan border is heavily restricted, some pre-Independence trains still run domestically within their respective countries. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)
Before the India-Pakistan partition in 1947, several trains connected Indian cities with regions that now lie in Pakistan. While these cross-border services ceased after independence, many of those historic trains continue to operate within India, some under their original names, others with new identities.
Here’s a look at the trains that once crossed borders and the routes they now serve.
Rail Journeys Before The 1947 Partition
Prior to Partition, passengers could travel freely by train from Indian cities like Mumbai to destinations like Lahore and Peshawar. These routes formed part of a vast 65,000 km railway network, out of which around 10,700 km went to Pakistan after 1947.
Today, Indian Railways has expanded to more than 70,000 km.
Although the India-Pakistan border is now heavily restricted, and cross-border rail services have largely ceased, some pre-Independence trains still run domestically within their respective countries.
Frontier Mail
- Original Route: Bombay (now Mumbai) – Vadodara – Delhi – Lahore – Rawalpindi – Peshawar
- Legacy: Once regarded as a VIP train of Indian Railways, Frontier Mail was one of the most prestigious trains of its time.
- Current Name: Golden Temple Mail
- Current Route: Mumbai – AmritsarThis historic train has been renamed and rerouted, but it continues to serve passengers today.
Punjab Mail
- Original Route: Delhi – Amritsar – Lahore – Multan
- Significance: Widely used for both passenger and goods transport across North India and what is now Pakistan.
- Current Status: Still operates under the same name
- Current Route: Mumbai – FirozpurThough the route has been shortened post-partition, the Punjab Mail retains its original name and remains in service.
Karachi Mail
- Original Route: Bombay – Jodhpur – Hyderabad (Sindh) – Karachi
- Importance: This train was key for commercial travel and trade, connecting major cities of undivided India.
- Current Name: Bolan Mail (in Pakistan)
- Current Route: Karachi – QuettaNow operated by Pakistan Railways, the train has been renamed and runs entirely within Pakistan.
Amritsar – Lahore Passenger
- Original Route: Amritsar – Lahore
- Usage: A daily local train used by commuters and regular travellers.
- Current Status: DiscontinuedThis service was terminated post-partition and has not been revived.
While borders and politics have changed, the legacy of these historic trains lives on. Some still operate, albeit on shorter routes or under different names, continuing to serve millions of passengers decades after the partition.
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