LAHORE: In a bid to bail out Pakistan Railways (PR) from prevailing engine shortage crisis, Korean Railways (Korail) has offered PR authorities cooperation in the field of locomotives.
The general manager (Operations) PR disclosed this during a media briefing about the outcomes of a meeting with a nine-member delegation of Korean Railway (Korail) here at railway Headquarters on Monday. Ashfaq Ahmad Khatak told the media persons that Korean railways was ready to help out PR in the present engine shortage problem.
They were ready to provide Pakistan railways 5 to 6 used diesel and electric locomotives after necessary modifications and alterations according to Pakistan Railways needs. He hoped that the deal would be finalized very soon after the settlement of other modalities.
The GM railways informed that the PR had demanded 200 locomotives, however, informed that the price was yet to be finalised as the deal was in primary stage of discussion.
The visiting Korean railways delegation comprised of senior officers headed by Noh Jae Hyong, General Manager Global Business Centre of Korail.
Khatak further informed the media that Korean Railway would operate trains on several suburban sections in line with open access policy.
He said the Korail team would examine opportunities in different projects during their seven-day visit to PR departments including workshops and factories.
He said the Korail delegation would also analyse possibilities of cooperation in different sectors of the railway system. He said that Korail would cooperate in several fields including building infrastructure.
To a question, he said the Korail team would examine possibilities of operating suburban trains on sections including Lahore-Faisalabad, Lahore-Narowal, Lahore-Kasur, Lahore-Gujranwala-Gujrat and Lahore-Wahga sections, adding the PR would charge track access fee if Korail used its track.
He said that Koreans would lay down their own track if they don’t find existing track feasible for their operations, however, in the case , they use PR infrastructure then would pay for the services they use from PR.
