Government has approved a project to procure 75 locomotives of 2000-2500 horse-power (HP) and same figure of 3,000-3,500HP simultaneously, says an official. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Railways (PR) has the capacity to repair around eight engines every month, subject to availability of spare parts and funds, according to an official of PR. He said that the government has approved a project to procure 75 locomotives of 2000-2500 horse-power (HP) and same figure of 3,000-3,500HP simultaneously.
He said that no new locomotives had been purchased since the procurement of 69 locomotives inducted in PR during 2003-2008.
The official confirmed that a contract agreement for procurement of 58 diesel-electric locomotives amounting $1.2 billion had been signed with SCR Ziyand, China on December 7, 2012 and the supply of locomotives is scheduled to commence from November 2013. Presently 18 freight trains are operating daily to clear other consignments.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (5)
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Again china.... after wasting billiin rupees in 2003 and 2004
@ABC: coz chinese one is cheaper and german costlier and pak is bankrupt ... thats y.... u gotta check even cost factor
It will be a total disaster for pakistan railway to procure chinese engines.This sub standard engines will fail soon after inaguration and then we start crying for railway failures.
Why make a major capital investment in a failing business your trying to sell? - smells like kickback to me.
I really hate Chinese technology. Why don’t we make purchases from Germany who has superior and durable engines? China could be a role model for development but their technology is third class. Why doesn’t Nawaz Sharif look at the condition of Chinese auto-rikshaws provided by Mushrraf government to poor people to earn a living? These people spend more money to keep these machines road worthy than earning from it. They should have been provided made-in-Italy Vespa three wheelers. Waste of money and nothing more. This is a politically motivated decision which will do no benefit to Pakistan Railways. NON REALISTIC.