ISLAMABAD  – The Pakistan Railways (PR) has the capacity to repair around 8 engines every month, subject to availability of spareparts and funds.

 An official of Pakistan Railways told APP that the Railways workshops have recently repaired around 20 locomotives, which will be used for freight service.      
He said the Railways had already floated tenders for purchase of 150 new locomotives while tenders for 75 more engines would be offered shortly.
He said work on the dualization of Lodhran-Sahiwal track had been completed while the dualization of Raiwind-Sahiwal section was underway.
 The official mentioned that the completion of this project would help reduce traveling time between Lahore and Karachi.
 Replying to a question, he said some 15 to 20 goods trains, if operated on regular basis, could steer the Railways out of the prevailing financial crunch.
 Work on replacement of obsolete signaling system on Lodhran-Shahdara Bagh section will be completed by 2013.
 The PC-1 for the replacement of Old Obsolete Signaling
Gear (OBSG) on Ladhran-Shahrara Bagh section was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC)  on Feb 6, 2008 at a cost of Rs 10.720 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. The Islamic Development Bank 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 Railways stations, including the cities of Lodhran, Shujaabad, Multan, Khanewal, Mian Channu,  Chichawatine, 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 Shahdrara 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.
Answering a question, he said public private partnership was being introduced for good governance in Railways as it would bring transparency in the ticketing system.