Here is an interesting update Pakistan Railways will shortly receive 25 hybrid diesel-electric locomotives, are diesel hybrid engines in Pakistan Railways reliable? Pakistan Railways (RP) Department plans to purchase up to 25 diesel-electric locomotives across the country to help replace old locomotives that will soon demolished. The department will replace old engines with new ones that will be eco-friendly engines to ensure environmental protection.
Ministry of Pakistan Railways Stated:
According to sources in the Ministry of Railways, the project for the purchase and production of 25 shunting locomotives will carried out over the course of three years at an estimated cost of Rs. 14 billion. They added only 51 locomotives out of 98 shunting points are operating for this purpose at various railway stations across the country. The majority of obsolete engines planned to gradually replaced by diesel hybrid models to save fuel and maintenance costs as well as protect the environment.
According to a study, the new locomotives would be more fuel-efficient and have 2,000–2,500 horsepower. In comparison to the older engines, they will also be simpler to operate and maintain. 2.3 billion rupees have also set aside by the federal government to build a facility for the repair of roughly 100 diesel-hybrid locomotives.
Passenger coaches with modern facilities:
According to a recent announcement, 230 new passenger coaches will be provided to the department by December 2022. These coaches will reportedly include many modern amenities and will be able to go up to 160 kmph.
Pakistan Railways will first purchase 46 modern passenger coaches from China and manufacture 184 additional coaches at Carriage Factory Islamabad. Each passenger coach will have 30 parlor cars, 20 vans for luggage and braking, and 80 compartments for the economy and air-conditioned class.
Reason For Replacing Old Locomotives:
Sources stated that the old engines used excessive fuel and, in most cases, the high horsepower engines were underutilized during shunting operations. The addition of new locomotives will increase the efficiency of Pakistan Railways by stopping heavy freight trains and removing bottlenecks at departure yards in Karachi, Lahore, and other places.
