Pakistan

Consignment of modern US locomotives reaches Karachi

Pakistan will receive a total of 55 locomotives in different phases

APP January 23, 2017

A newly-inducted GE locomotive is being offloaded at the Karachi port on Monday. PHOTO: APP

KARACHI: A consignment of seven modern locomotives reached Karachi from the United States to reinforce Pakistan Railways’ existing fleet.

“Pakistan will receive a total of 55 locomotives in different phases from the US. The remaining 48 are expected to be handed over to the Pakistan Railways by June 2017,” official sources in the Ministry of Railways told APP Monday.

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Commenting on specifications of the locomotives, sources said the consignment comprised 4,000 horsepower diesel-powered modern locomotives produced by General Electric with a 676mm gauge. The 137 tonne six-axle locomotives are designed for a maximum speed of 120 km per hour and are expected to provide better fuel efficiency and longer maintenance intervals than Pakistan Railways’ current fleet.

CEO Pakistan Railways Muhammad Javed Anwar at the inauguration of newly inducted locomotives at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Monday. PHOTO: APP

The locomotives will help cope with the harsh operating conditions in Pakistan, having additional cooling capacity and an air-conditioned cab suitable for bidirectional operation.

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They will also be used for transporting imported coal from Karachi’s Port Qasim to Sahiwal Power Plant in Punjab and Jamshoro Power Plant in Sindh.

This is the first ever consignment of Evolution Series locomotives to have reached anywhere in South Asia, the official added, saying it is also Pakistan's first such fleet.

COMMENTS (16)

007 | 7 years ago | Reply @Siddiqui They are intended for freight purposes. It doesn't have to be sexy.

Kamran | 7 years ago | Reply The General Electric ES40DC EVOLUTION is high technology Traction Motor design utilizing a high efficiency 12 cylinder Turbodiesel with 40% fewer emissions. This engine produces the same power as 16 cylinder units in lesser locomotives. Power is transferred via Asynchronous generation and converted to DC by Capacitor Inverters so no transmission is required. Final drive is through axle mounted electric direct drive. This is fine piece of machinery and it's unfortunate many who make comments might not be aware of the reality of superior engineering and reliability.

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Raj | 7 years ago | Reply So Pakistan can manufacture Missiles but not Locomotives.

Mustafa | 7 years ago | Reply These are no old fashioned locomotives but are the most state-of-the-art energy efficient monsters with 4000HP of power. You should see pictures of this class of machines at work on the rugged US terrains. Upto 6 locos coupled together and pulling a mile long take is a sight to been seen and experienced.

Uncle Sam | 7 years ago | Reply Horrible Color Scheme. This Color combination of Dark green and red is so disgusting that it makes me sick. Atleast color it to make it preesentable.

SuperNeo | 7 years ago | Reply @imad: technology transfer not possible in Zakat. Sorry next.

SuperNeo | 7 years ago | Reply @Siddiqui: Sadaqe and zakat are not by choice, what ever is left is given for charity, like turkey donated 100 buses after up gradation.

SuperNeo | 7 years ago | Reply @Jamshed: you should NOT ask these questions, this hurts the sentiments fake peoples,

AKA | 7 years ago | Reply @Siddiqui - Old fashioned looking but extremely powerful reliable @M Saeed - Canada buys 4000HP plus diesel locomotives from GE USA @China is one of the biggest trading partner of USA. not a good idea mixing Trades with Politics and secondly, GE USA is, i guess, the only company produces such a powerful engines. It's always smart to be rational than emotional all the time. :)

Lumdheeng | 7 years ago | Reply @Jamshed Just get out of imaginary shell, no country nor even US is sabotaging CPEC. It's a mere harbor, or port, where China will unload oil instead taking around Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, South Korea. It will cost China less time and energy, from Gawadar, the oil will be transported by train, and road, into Xingxiang, for which China is investing heavily. Question is, Pakistan will make best use of CPEC is doubtful.

curious2 | 7 years ago | Reply If you want to use coal you need to have dependable powerful diesel locomotives - GE makes some of the best. Coal is heavy so you might consider upgrading the rails as well.

Jamshed | 7 years ago | Reply Hey what happened to taller than mountain friend China's engines? I thought USA, who is actively sabotaging CPEC is our enemy..why are we buying engines from them?

imad | 7 years ago | Reply And no technology transfer agreement was part of this?

Bhaijaan | 7 years ago | Reply Have they fixed the problem of generator rotors catastrophically breaking into two in the middle of a journey? Go, ask them. Not that it will do you any good now.

Muhammed Saeed | 7 years ago | Reply this is funny, US buys trains from Canada and China because they are.....

Siddiqui | 7 years ago | Reply Strange. USA is still using these old fashioned diesel locomotives.

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