Railways: Locomotives exceeding economic life
281 from a fleet of 443 have completed their span of 20 years
281 from a fleet of 443 have completed their span of 20 years. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Officials at the Ministry of Railways said that a total of 281 locomotives, out of a total of 443, have completed their economic life of 20 years.
They added that another 162 locomotives had already completed 10 to 20 years span of the stipulated economic life.
Locomotives are usually designed with an expected life of 20 years and engines tend to break down frequently after the stipulated time. However, Pakistan Railways still has 156 locomotives of over 40 years or older, which is twice their specified age. One of these is a 53 year old diesel-electric locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company, added the officials.
Of the old locomotives, 78 are still in use, which is around 27.86% of the active fleet of engines. Railways has 41 locomotives which are between the ages of 31-40 years, and 84 that are between 21-30 years of age.
Of the engines which are yet to complete their economic life, 99 are aged between 11-20 years and only 63 were manufactured in the past 10 years.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.
Officials at the Ministry of Railways said that a total of 281 locomotives, out of a total of 443, have completed their economic life of 20 years.
They added that another 162 locomotives had already completed 10 to 20 years span of the stipulated economic life.
Locomotives are usually designed with an expected life of 20 years and engines tend to break down frequently after the stipulated time. However, Pakistan Railways still has 156 locomotives of over 40 years or older, which is twice their specified age. One of these is a 53 year old diesel-electric locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company, added the officials.
Of the old locomotives, 78 are still in use, which is around 27.86% of the active fleet of engines. Railways has 41 locomotives which are between the ages of 31-40 years, and 84 that are between 21-30 years of age.
Of the engines which are yet to complete their economic life, 99 are aged between 11-20 years and only 63 were manufactured in the past 10 years.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2016.