ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has the capacity to repair around 8 engines every month, subject to availability of spare -parts and funds.
An official of Pakistan Railways told APP that Railways workshop had repaired numbers of locomotives, which would be used in freight service and for passenger purposes.
He said work on dualization of Lodhran-Sahiwal track has been completed while dualization of Raiwind- Sahiwal section is underway.
The official mentioned that the completion of this project would help reduce travelling time between Lahore and Karachi.
To a question he said according to an estimate, running about 15 to 20 goods trains can steer the Railways out of prevailing financial crunch if operated on regular basis.
Work on replacement of obsolete signalling system on Lodhran-Shahdara Bagh section would be completed by 2013.
The PC-1 for the project of replacement of Old Obsolete Signalling Gear (OBSG) on Ladhran-Shahrara Bagh section was approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Feb 6, 2008 at a cost of Rs10.720 billion including FEC Rs7.899 billion.
The contract agreement was signed with the consortium of M/s Bombardier Sweden and China Railways Signal and Communications Corporation (CRSC) on December 30, 2009. Islamic Development Bank has agreed to give US$ 140 million for the project.
Under, computer based interlocking (CBI) with colour light signals and electric Point Machines would be provided at 31 Railway stations including the cities of Lodhran, Shujaabad, Multan, Khanewal, Mian Channu, Chichawatine, Sahiwal, Okara, Pattoki, Raiwind and Lahore.
Auto Bock System on 433 km length along with Railways track and Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system in 160 Diesel Electric Locomotives will be provided on Lodhran Shahdrara Bagh section.
With the ATP system, train would stop automatically before red signal in case the train driver fails to apply brakes due to any reason, he added.
To a question he said Public private partnership is being introduced for good governance in Railways; as it would bring transparency in the ticketing system.
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