Six locomotives brought back to life
Around 30 locomotives would be added to the system in a month or two which would smooth operations of the department, according to Pakistan Railways sources.
They said that the development would also ease the pressure on existing locomotives which would limit the delays and holdups which have become a norm for passengers.
There are only 156 working locomotives, far less than the minimal requirement, whereas in total there are 502 locomotives but most of them are out of order.
It further said that repair of around 102 locomotives is in the pipeline whereas complete restoration of highly profitable freight train service depends on pace of the process. However, sources said that priority of the department is passenger train service.
Railway Workers Union Chairman Manzoor Ahmed Razi welcomed the development but said that the pace of process should be expedited as passengers have been suffering as a result of lacklustre efforts of Pakistan Railways.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2011.
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Railways being the lifeline of a nation should be protected , for PR decay along with Railway minister , Railway Bureaucracy equal to blame. Providing package time to time will serve for certain period but that will not fix the problem permanently.
Solutions:
Headcount of officers should be reviewed and see only required officer should stay.
Railway land should be free from encroachment and either sale it or lease it.
Locomotives should be used for freight trains and to woo organisations should give some concessions but its doubtful as road transport lobby is mighty.
Instead of buying locomotives and boggies from foreign , make use of domestic factories but it will devoid babus and officers from kickbacks.