‘New Chinese coaches to start chugging soon’

PR has received around 46 of the total 230 high-speed modern carriages

Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday said that all the coaches imported from China were perfectly fit and would be seen running on the railway tracks in a couple of days.

"The coaches will be operated with Green Line which was set to be started during the current month," said the minister in a tweet.

After the successful trial, Saad Rafique said all the coaches were ready to run.

The minister said that Pakistan Railways would take legal action against the pages spreading fake news about the department.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Railways has received the first batch of around 46 of the total 230 high-speed modern coaches from China.

The new coaches will have the capacity to run at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour whereas the current maximum speed limit of trains is about 120 kilometers per hour. These coaches will significantly improve train service.

The modern coaches would offer an improved train travel experience in the country to 220 million people, many of whom rely on trains for long journeys.

The new coaches comprise economy, AC standard, and AC parlour classes for passengers.

Pakistan Railways had carried out a test run of the new coaches on the Main Line-I (ML-I) starting from Karachi to Peshawar via Rohri, Sukkar, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Lahore, and Rawalpindi before beginning the commercial travel.

After receiving 46 completely built units (CBUs) manufactured in China, Pakistan Railways would soon begin manufacturing 184 similar coaches at its carriage factory in Islamabad with the assistance of Chinese engineers under the technology transfer agreement.