Scramble for locomotives

According to a news report, a high-level delegation of hydrodynamic locomotives manufacturers from Germany, presently on a second visit to this country, in a meeting the other day with Railways Minister, Mian Shamim Haider, offered Pakistan a joint venture in production of locomotives and refurbishing of German coaches.
In between the delegation's two visits, the Railways Minister had visited Germany, to inspect the facilities at the German Railways vehicle competence centre. The visiting delegation is also reported to be holding meetings now with Pakistani Railways officials and visiting its various facilities, including the Risalpur Locomotive Factory.
It was on a visit to the Pakistan Carriage Factory, that the visitors discussed the possibility of a joint venture for manufacturing locomotive and refurbishing of German coaches, while assuring assistance in setting up research and design facilities.
The Railways Minister, while appreciating the offer, expressed the hope that the co-operation between Pakistan Railways and Germany could go a long way in exploring new business avenues, especially international connectivity on the Trans Europe and Trans Asian Rail network.
According to other reports, the Railways had been engaged in negotiations with Japanese firms as well for latest locomotives.
At an earlier meeting the Japanese authorities were asked for details of costs involved in procurement of locomotives, with the underlying idea of importing them from Japan, in case of availability at lower prices. It will be noted that the urgency about procurement of locomotives had emerged due to an acute shortage resulting from the discovery of faults in the Chinese locomotives.
Add to this, the recently reported moves for privatisation of the Railways, and the scramble for locomotives should become understandable too. It was by way of a prelude to the privatisation of the entire Railways set-up that the Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Service recently decided to privatise two express trains.
It goes without saying that with the privatisation of the Railways, people would experience changes for the better in the communication system, and that the existing facilities would be so enhanced as to bring them on a par with international standards.
Privatisation of the Railways is, certainly, a pressing need. But, as pointed out earlier, an international expert study on Railways container transport had also stressed the need of expeditious upgrading of the infrastructure, focusing advisability of effectively coping not only with the existing but also with the prospects of increase in the future demand too.
Needless to point out, shifting of heavy reliance on movement of passengers and goods, away from road, and on to the rail transport, could prove its worth in a number of ways. As such, the very idea of basic improvement in infrastructure, provision of required number of locomotives and rolling stock, along with induction of professionalism in its management, seems have fired the imagination of those who matter.
In so far as urgency of fulfilment of these requirements is concerned, reference may be made to an earlier report, pointing out that the Pakistan Railways had been awaiting the go-ahead signal from the government for more than 300 locomotives, freight wagons and passenger coaches from India.
A summary, in this regard, was also stated to have been submitted for approval, as the Railways was then looking for about 12 locomotives, 200 freight wagons, and around 100 passenger coaches from India, their import from the neighbouring country having been found financially viable, in addition to prospects of in time delivery.
The only hitch was then stated to be that the government was undecided on whether to purchase them or to go for lease. The reasons for delay in the matter may appear to be incomprehensible. For in so far as Indian rolling stock is concerned it is ideally suited to our track, which happens to be historically the same.
As against this, most of the other countries have metre gauge track thereby, needing extra effort to meet our requirements. This should have been the major factor in opting for supplies from India. Now that the prospects of increasing two-way trade with India have further brightened with the hope of early reopening of Khokhrapar-Monabao rai1 link, Indian origin rolling stock can ensure smooth sailing to the mutual advantage of two countries.