Daily Times

ISLAMABAD – Some Chinese locomotives, which had developed cracks in the under-frame during the train operation, have now been rectified.

Ministry of Railways spokesman said that Chinese Company, CSR Ziyang supplied 29 locomotives during 2014 to Pakistan Railways. A few of these locomotives developed cracks in the under-frame during train operations. The supplier firm was approached under the warranty clause of the agreement for rectification of the defect.

The defective portion of all the locomotives was completely replaced by the Chinese firm at Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur within the target time period during May 2016. Presently, all the locomotives are now operating satisfactorily and working the trains as per designated speed at full capacity.

– 281 locomotives completed 20 years age –

Ministry of Railways said that a total of 281 locomotives of Pakistan Railways have completed its 20 years economic life out of a fleet of 443, said sources in. It said that 162 locomotives have already completed 10 to 20 years of the stipulated economic life of 20 years.

The locomotives were usually designed with an economic life of 20 years and after completing this period, the engines tend to break down frequently. The Pakistan Railways still has 156 locomotives of over 40 years or older. One of these locomotives was a 53-year old diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by the American Locomotive Company.

The old locomotives, 78 were still in use. This makes around 27 per cent of Railways active fleet of engines, the sources maintained. Apart from these, they said that Pakistan Railways has 41 locomotives which are between the ages of 31-40 years, and 84 locomotives which were between 21-30 years of age.

Of the engines which are yet to complete their economic life included 99 locomotives aged between 11-20 years and just 63 locomotives which were manufactured in the past 10 years.