Pakistan Railways to procure 55 locomotives from US, Senate told

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Thursday said Pakistan Railways will procure 55

locomotives from the United States after finalisation of a competitive bidding process.

Speaking in the Senate during Question Hour, the minister said an agreement worth $213.689 million had been signed with a US company to procure these locomotives, adding that these will be delivered by next year.

The minister said a project for rehabilitation of 27 locomotives was under execution at Risalpur factory, adding 15 locomotives had been turned out for train operations while another 12 were under rehabilitation.

He said 60 Chinese locomotives supplied by Dongfang Electric Corp against contract agreement were held up for want of spare parts; therefore, Pakistan Railways had initiated a feasibility study for restoration of these Chinese locomotives which was under process.

He said the Pakistan Railways had initiated special repair of 100 locomotives, adding that this project is currently in procurement phase.

Replying to another question, the minister said Pakistan Railways purchased 63 locomotives from foreign countries since 2008 and at present, 172 locomotives are un-serviceable and defective out of the 440 available with Pakistan Railways.

The minister also said that no bridges were declared dangerous for Railway operations in the country during the last ten years.

He said the design-life of the bridges of Pakistan Railways can vary.

He said though 86 per cent of Railways bridges were more than 100 years old, but regular process of rehabilitation and strengthening of these bridges continues according to prescribed scheduled and at present, all the Pakistan Railways bridges come up to safety standards.