950804

Bulk of

Railways

stock

overage

NASIR SIDDIQUI

KARACHI: About 60 percent rails, 55 percent sleepers, 38 percent diesel locomotives and 100 percent steam locomotives of our railways system are overage.

Sources close to the Ministry of Railways stated that about seven percent of passenger coaches and freight wagons have also lost their utility.

Sources said Pakistan Railways is now laying major emphasis on the rehabilitation of its overage assets.

An amount of Rs 2725 million has been approved by the Government to undertake: (i) rail renewal of (25 kilometres), (ii) sleeper renewal (35 kilometres), (iii) manufacture of 25 AC passenger carriages, (iv) rehabilitation of 150 traction motors, (v) manufacture of eight diesel electric locomotives in the Locomotive Factory located at Risalpur, and (vi) fitment of roller bearings on 2000 freight wagons.

Sources further added that besides work on providing auto-bloc signalling on Bin Qasim-Meting section of the main line, improving sub-structure of bridges on Karachi-Lalamusa section, renovation of station buildings, and renovation of passenger carriages is in progress and will be completed soon.

Sources said the gross earnings of Pakistan Railways which were to the tune of Rs 9134 million during 1993-94 came down to Rs 8334 million in 1994-95, showing a substantial decline of Rs 300 million in its gross earnings.

In terms of freight, the Pakistan Railways carried 5938 million tonnes cargo in 1993-94 compared to 5543 million tonnes in 1994-95.

Pakistan Railways is also contemplating to run light high-speed trains at a cost of Rs 8.3 billion to compete with the modern means of transportation and to provide advanced transport facilities to its passengers. These light high-speed trains will be fully airconditioned, run at a speed of 160 km per hour, and would ply between five selected stations.

Pakistan Railways operates 8775 route kilometres, 815 stations and 46 train halts. Its major assets include 536 diesel, 29 electric and 82 steam locomotives, 2,250 passenger coaches and 28,500 freight wagons.