ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways plans emergency locomotive repairs, with 172 engines out of service, railway sources told on Sunday.
Of the operator’s fleet of 439 locomotives of different makes and models, 267 are operational. The remaining engines require restoration before they can return to service.
Manufacturers have been approached about repairing 69 locomotives. Discussions continue over the supply of spare parts needed to restore them, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has prepared a project proposal to modernise and repair 35 GMU-model engines. It has forwarded the proposal to the planning ministry for approval.
Railway sources said the ministry has not yet responded. That proposal therefore remains awaiting approval, while spare-parts discussions concern a separate group of locomotives.
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Officials at the Ministry of Railways expect 36 engines to become operational within four months. Their timetable provides different restoration targets for two locomotive models.
Some of the fleet figures predate Sunday’s account. Jang reported on August 29 that a report presented to the Senate listed the same total fleet and operational numbers.
That earlier account also identified the February restoration target for AGE locomotives and a year-end target for another group of engines. However, it does not independently establish how far the repair work has progressed since then.
Under the timetable outlined, 20 ZCU-model locomotives are expected to return to service within two months. Another 16 AGE-model engines are scheduled to become operational by February 2027.
