ISLAMABAD: Dedicated efforts of Pakistan Railways management and increased spending on the repair and  maintenance have ensured availability of operational locomotives from 180 in May, 2013 to 293 at present.
Pakistan Railways has a fleet of 448 Diesel Electric locomotives, out of which 293 D.E locomotives are operating on Railway tracks at present in the country, official sources said on Thursday.
However, the sources said, during May 2013, only 74 locomotives (41 per cent) were on full complements i.e. six (06) traction motors while remaining were with 2 to 4 traction motors and could not pull the requisite trailing load, resulting in 11 failures per working loco during the year.
The position has completely turned around and now 234 (80 per cent) locomotives are on full complements and capable to haul full load, also failure of locomotives reduced to 1/6th during this period.
Regarding amount incurred on maintenance/repair of DE locomotives, the sources said during last five years 13413.039 million were spent for the purpose.
The year-wise details showed that during 2011-12, an amount of Rs. 1220.684 million was spent on maintenance/repair of DE locomotives, Rs. 2223.875 million during 2012-13, Rs. 2643.806 million during 2013-14, Rs. 4159.057 million during 2014-15 and Rs. 3165.617 were incurred during 2015-16.
The sources said it is evident that the expenditure on maintenance/repair of locomotives substantially increased during last three-year which is reflected in their increased availability and reliability.
Replying to a question, the sources said 93 DE locomotives are under maintenance/heavy repairs presently and will be made completely operational by June 2018. This is, however, an ongoing exercise as running locomotives have to be detained for carrying out routine schedules/overhauls.
The sources said 62 Chinese locomotives are held up since long requiring heavy repairs and added rehabilitation plan of these locomotives is under consideration subject to a feasibility study to establish that the rehabilitation will be economical, keeping in view residual life of these locomotives.
Answering another question regarding details of ZCU locomotives received during last five (05) years, the sources said contract for supply of 58 locomotives had been signed.
Five locomotives manufactured in Locomotive Factory, Risalpur, were commissioned during period from January to May 2015.
In addition, Pakistan Railways also signed a contract with M/s GE of USA in June 2015 for procurement of 55 DE Locomotives of 4000-4500 HP, out of which 14 locomotives have been received in Pakistan.
The remaining locomotives are expected to reach Pakistan in different batches up to July 2017. The Freight on-Board (FOB) cost per loco is US $ 3.6 million, the sources added.
When asked, the sources said there is a proposal for purchase of new locomotives in future.
Giving details, the sources said an international tender for purchase of 20 DE Locomotives of 2000-2500 HP has been opened in February 2017 and is under evaluation while a PC-I for purchase of 300 DE Locomotives is under preparation which would meet the requirements of Pakistan Railways for next ten years.
Pakistan Railways intend to go for international bidding for indigenous manufacturing of bulk of these locomotives (about 80 per cent) in Pakistan Railways locomotives factory, Risalpur through Transfer of Technology (TOT).
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