ISLAMABAD: As many as 281 out of total 443 locomotives of Pakistan Railways are about 20 year old and have competed their economic life, said sources in Ministry of Railways.
Talking to APP, they said that 162 locomotives have already completed 10 to 20 years of the stipulated economic life of 20 years.
They said that locomotives were usually designed with an economic life of 20 years and after completing this period, the engines tend to break down frequently. Pakistan Railways still has 156 locomotives of over 40 years or older – over twice their economic age. One of these locomotives was a 53-year old diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by the American Locomotive Company, they added. The old locomotives, 78 were still in use. This makes around 27.86 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 include 99 locomotives aged between 11-20 years and just 63 locomotives which were manufactured in the past 10 years.
