Railways to rehabilitate 146 non-functional locomotives

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has decided to rehabilitate and modernize its 146 non-functional locomotives to facilitate the passengers and generating more revenue for the department.

"73 locomotives are under normal maintenance schedules and repair schedules which will be made operational through different schemes under PSDP," an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

He said that Pakistan Railways, at present, has a fleet of total 468 locomotives out of which 146 are non functional while 322 are fully operational.

“Out of these 322 locomotives, 144 locomotives are almost new, having recently been procured and up-graded,” the official added.

He said that so far 26 locomotives have been rehabilitated and made operational while one locomotive will be rolled out by the end of this month, the official added.

The official said a project for special repair of 100 D.E locomotives has been approved.

Up till now, 37 D.E locomotives have been repaired and rolled out for train operation while the project will be completed within this financial year, he added.

He said that 10 locomotives were damaged in accidents, requiring heavy repairs.

Procurement of material to repair these locomotives is under process and will be completed in current financial year, he added.

The official said that 62 Dalian Chinese locomotives are held up since 2012 for want of imported spares.

Feasibility study is under process to examine whether the proposed repairs will be financially viable considering their residual life.