Off-track: No light at the end of the tunnel for freight trains

Officials say goods cannot be transported despite willingness of businesses.

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Railways is in its present debilitated state for a number of reasons – one of them is the loss of revenue from freight trains which have not been operational since July last year, resulting in losses worth Rs4 million to Peshawar Division alone.

Around 180 train coaches are rusting in Peshawar despite businesses wanting to transport their goods to different parts of the country. However, not a single train is presently in operation due to lack of engines.

“We used to earn Rs300-400 million till 2009-10. It was considerable revenue for the Ministry of Railways and we could easily handle all its activities. But since July last year, we are hardly able to give salaries to the employees from the revenue earned from passenger trains,” said an official of the Railways Cantonment Division, requesting anonymity.



He added that 306 train coaches in Kundai, 172 in Daudkhel, 180 in Peshawar, 76 in Taxila, 127 in Kohat, 160 in Nowshera, 205 in Attock, 49 in Wah Cantt and 52 in Chaad have suspended operations since the past one and a half years.

“Three trains were earlier transporting goods to different cities of the country on a daily basis. The average fare of one coach was Rs45,000, while Rs80,000 was charged for coaches going to Karachi from Peshawar. There was one engine for 30 coaches.”

The official said it was a profitable venture with profits of up to 70% of the total income.

“The Ministry of Railways is in contact with many countries for the privatisation of freight trains. China and United States have also expressed interest, but the companies want to hire their own employees and sack the existing workers. Thus, the move is facing resistance from various workers’ unions.”



Public Relations Director at Pakistan Railway’s Lahore office, Zubair Shafi Ghuri, said they had around a 100 locomotives in the country five months earlier. The number later reached 150 after they repaired many trains which were stalled in various stations for years.

“We have earned Rs1.3 billion more revenue through passenger trains compared to last year. However, there were zero freight trains last year and the number has reached 15 at present,” said Ghuri.

Ghuri said one train is still transporting cement from Kohat to Karachi, but that it returns to Kohat Railway Station empty. He attributed the non-availability of spare parts for these trains as the main reason for suspension of operations.

Apart from the loss incurred through non-operational freight trains, Peshawar Division is also facing an acute problem with punctuality of passenger trains. The division refunded Rs2.3 million worth of fares in the first seven months of the year due to late arrival of trains.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2012.