Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour Thursday said that 55 modern coaches from China have arrived in the country which would be attached with different trains after completing the required tests.
“Among 55 coaches, 12 are air-conditioned business class, one AC sleeper, 31 economy class, five power vans, four brake vans and two are dining cars,” he said.
Talking to APP, he said 147 more coaches would be prepared in Islamabad Carriage Factory by the Railway engineers at a cost of Rs 17 billion, which would help improve efficiency of Pakistan Railways.
He said the coaches are prepared on modern techniques and are equipped with almost every facility. “The coaches certainly will help to improve Railways’ operational efficiency.”
Elaborating, he said along with central cooling system, the coaches have eastern and western toilet facility. The coaches have also the system to indicate if they have any technical and mechanical fault.
In the business class coaches, he said the facility of clean drinking water has been provided, while extra 950-gallon water tankers have been installed. He said that all-out efforts are being made to make Pakistan Railways (PR) a profit earning organization.
The minister said that last year was very difficult period for Pakistan Railways but now things have started changing and during this year, the affairs of Pakistan Railways would notice positive changes.
To a question, he said, except India, all over the world Railways are in deficit adding Indian Railways was given $11billion by the government in May 2011. “We will have to invest in Railways to make it a vibrant organization,” he added.
To a question he said the Pakistan Railways has the capacity to repair around eight engines every month, subject to availability of spare-parts and funds.
Railways workshop have recently repaired around 20 locomotives, which would be used in freight service.
He said work on dualization of Lodhran-Sahiwal track has been completed while dualization of Raiwind-Sahiwal section is underway. The completion of this project would help reduce traveling time between Lahore and Karachi.
To a question he said according to an estimate, running about 15 to 20 goods trains can steer the Railways out of prevailing financial crunch if operated on regular basis. Work on replacement of obsolete signaling system on Lodhran-Shahdara Bagh section would be completed by 2013.
The PC-1 for the project of replacement of Old Obsolete Signaling Gear (OBSG) on Ladhran-Shahdara Bagh section was approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Feb 6, 2008 at a cost of Rs 10.720 billion including FEC Rs 7.899 billion.
The contract agreement was signed with the consortium of M/s Bombardier Sweden and China Railways Signal and Communications Corporation (CRSC) on December 30, 2009. Islamic Development Bank has agreed to give US$ 140 million for the project. Under, computer based interlocking (CBI) with colour light signals and electric Point Machines would be provided at 31 Railway stations including the cities of Lodhran, Shujaabad, Multan, Khanewal, Mian Channu, Chichawatni, Sahiwal, Okara, Pattoki, Raiwind and Lahore.
Auto Bock System on 433 km length along with Railways track and Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system in 160 Diesel Electric Locomotives will be provided on Lodhran Shahdara Bagh section.
With the ATP system, train would stop automatically before red signal in case the train driver fails to apply brakes due to any reason, he added.
To a question he said Public private partnership is being introduced for good governance in Railways; as it would bring transparency in the ticketing system.
