PR invites South Korean railways to operate its five trains

Pakistan Railways has invited South Korean Railways to operate its five trains on various routes that are running in deficit, General Manager Operations, Ishfaq Khataq told media here at the PR Headquarters on Monday.
He said South Korean Railway experts have agreed to train Pakistan railway staff and help restore infrastructure of the under-utilised railway network.
Earlier, South Korean railway delegation met with PR officials at the Railways headquarters and discussed various proposals to bring improvement in Pakistan Railways. Khataq said that Pakistan Railways needs at least 200 locomotives as early as possible to resume its normal operations and play its vital role in the economic development of the nation.
South Korea has offered us six locomotives of 3000 horsepower capacity, which is quiet insufficient, he added. After checking their performance we will precede further to upgrade our system GM further added. He said Pakistan railways has offered the South Korean Railways to run its trains on five routes with open access policy. South Korean trains will operate on Lahore-Faisalabad, Lahore-Gujarat-Gujranwala, Lahore-Kasur and Wagha routes. He said that delegation would soon send feasibility report regarding trains operation.

source: Business Recorder

Pak to purchase railway engines from Spain

Islamabad—Pakistan has accepted the offer of Spanish government to purchase its used railway engines and an agreement would be signed after railway officials visited each others countries.
Well-placed sources in the Ministry of Railways said that Spanish ambassador during his meeting with Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour had offered his government’s assistance restoration of railways.
He had also offered him to provide used railway engines to support railway system of the country.
Sources said that it was decided that Pakistan would take six used engine to use it for 90 days to check its ability.
They said that both the countries would sign an agreement about provision of railway engines if the test was passed.
In this regard, a team of Pakistani railways experts would visit Spain to inspect the used engines while a Spanish team would tour Pakistan to review the scope of investment in Pakistan Railways.
Sources said General Manager Operation of Pakistan Railways Ishfaq Khattak had explained it to Spanish ambassador that they would proceed the affair further if six engines passed the test.
Pakistan Railways has badly affected due to shortage of engines and it has only 160 engines and needs 400 engines to activate the whole system.

source: Pakistan Observer