KARACHI: The second consignment of four railway engines has arrived from China at the West Wharf of Karachi Port Trust. Five engines had arrived earlier this month.
So far nine locomotives had reached here out of total 58 engines being acquired from China and the remainders would be supplied by the manufacturers by the end of the current year, Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique informed.
He said that after many years new locomotives are being inducted into the system as they are the lifeline for the Railway system. He said that a team of 50 Railway officials had been sent to China for training to operate and maintain these locomotives who will also serve as the master-trainers to guide other staff.
He further said that a Chinese and an American company had jointly manufactured these locomotives and assured that these are of high RPM capacity made of durable material. The locomotives cost at $1.96 million each.
A modern shed had also been built for them where the trained maintenance staff would look after them, he added. He said that in the next three to four years 400 more locomotives for goods and passenger train operation and another 100 exclusively for coal operation would be needed.
