KARACHI: Federal Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that after many years new locomotives are being inducted into the system as they are the lifeline for the Railway system.
Briefing to journalists after receiving nine locomotives from China at city port. Five engines had arrived early this month while the second consignment of four engines arrived on Saturday.
So far nine locomotives had reached here out of total 58 engines being acquired from China and the remainders would be supplied by the manufacturers by the end of the current year.
He said that a team of 50 Railway officials had been sent to China for training to operate and maintain these locomotives who will also serve as the master-trainers to guide other staff.
He said that contract for these engines was signed by the previous government.
He further said that a Chinese and an American company had jointly manufactured these locos and assured that these are of high RPM capacity made of durable material.
A modern shed had also been built for them where the trained maintenance staff would look after them, he added.
He said that in the next three to four years 400 more locomotives for goods and passenger train operation and another 100 exlusively for coal operation would be needed.
The Railway Minister about train punctuality said: "When I took the charge of his ministry it had dropped to 10 percent but since then it had improved to 50 percent due to discipline".
PR was now focusing more on quality than quantity and decisions were being taken on administrative grounds and not for political considerations, he remarked.
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