Pakistan Railways expects Rs 6 Billion More Income

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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**Pak Railways planning to start fast Express Goods Train

**

  • October 18, 2015

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Islamabad: Pakistan Railways is planning to start a fast express goods train between Karachi Port and industrial cities of Punjab in collaboration with private sector to facilitate the business community.

A railways spokesman said transportation of goods is the main source of income of the department, while passenger trains are run to facilitate the people.

He said after coming to power, the present government has enhanced the number of goods train operating between Karachi Port and Lahore from one to 10.

He said the speed of goods train was 55 kilometers per hour previously but now it has been increased to** 80 kilometers per hour.**

He said number of passengers traveling by Pakistan Railways has increased from** 47 million in 2013-14 to 52 million in 2014-15, while it is expected to rise to 57 million. **

Railways to upgrade waiting halls at 16 major Stations

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The Pakistan Railways would upgrade waiting halls at its 16 major stations by providing air-conditioners, Internet kiosks, televisions and other facilities.

The waiting rooms at the stations are generally well maintained, however, proposals are under consideration to improve facilities for passengers at Railway stations in the country.
The selected stations are Karachi City, Karachi Cantonment, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Okara, Raiwind, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Hassanabdal, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Peshawar and Quetta.

Sources said the scope of up-gradation would cover all allied amenities for convenience of passengers. They said that one air-conditioned waiting room for ladies and one for gents had already been constructed at the Lahore railway station.

The sources said it was not a fact that sub-standard food items were being sold at the railway stations at higher prices. They said the Pakistan Railways had introduced a new catering policy whereby the sale of substandard food and other items had been completely eliminated. Now only branded food items such as water, soft drinks, ice-cream, tea, biscuits etc., were being sold there, added the sources.

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PR freight sector earns record income

Source: Dawn.com
*
LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) earned a record income in the freight sector as some 300 freight trains left Karachi for various upcountry destinations in October.

“We earned **Rs 999.5 million on account of freight transportation during the last month which is a record,” **said a PR spokesperson at its headquarters here on Monday.

Maximum income from the sector in a month had been Rs 853 million, said the spokesperson.

Freight service is the major source of income for railways worldwide and the Pakistan Railways used to earn at least Rs 6 billion annually from the operation of eight to 10 freight trains from Karachi for various upcountry destinations daily.

An acute shortage of locomotives had in May 2011 forced the railways administration to suspend all cargo trains from Karachi. Suspension of passenger trains and availability of locomotives resulted in restoration of freight service of four trains daily in December the same year.

The freight service witnessed several ups and downs primarily due to locomotives shortage and the number of freight trains leaving Karachi remained one or two daily.

Railways got a boost as five freight trains left Karachi for upcountry destinations in December 2003.

After a decade or so, a total of 16 freight trains left Karachi for various upcountry destinations on Aug 31, 2014, heralding revival of the much-neglected Pakistan Railways

*PR likely to achieve Rs 38 bn profit target: Senate told

Tuesday, 03 November 2015 21:12
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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq Tuesday informed the Senate that the Pakistan** Railways was likely to achieve Rs 38 billion profit exceeding the Rs 32 billion target set for the current fiscal year.
**
During the question-hour, he said the profit received so far was indicating that the national fleet would not only achieve the set target but also exceed it.

Replying to a question, the minister said the government was taking a number of steps to strengthen railways network, adding that Pakistan and Afghanistan were in contact to connect Chaman with Spinboldak and Jalalabad-Peshawar through rail links.

He said Chaman-Spinboldak project (11.5 kilometer track) would be carried out at a cost of Rs 1262.960 million, while the government had offered Afghanistan to bear expenses of the Jalalabad-Peshawar project. Besides, Saad Rafique said that Pakistan Railways had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the official freight forwarding company of State Turkish Railways, Great Anatolian Logistic Company in 2013.

Under the MoU, he said, the company would finance freight trains and bear allied expenses including marketing for first six months of the project execution.

To another question, he said Pakistan Railways was ready to restore the **‘ECO train service’ **but the delay was due to some infrastructure improvement works taking place near Istanbul, Turkey.

“The matter is vigorously being pursued with the Turkish authorities.”

Replying another question, the minister said as many as 17 schools established under Pakistan Railways were operating in different cities of the country.

Saad Rafique said various reforms had been introduced in the Railways schools, under which
building infrastructure and salary packages of teachers had been improved, besides holding training courses for teaching staff.

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Your link is not working. Will you please link Dawn source to read the actual news? :)

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PR freight sector earns record income - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

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21 Railway Stations to be up-graded in 3 years: Railway Minister
**
Khawaja Saad Rafiq informs Senate 250 new passenger coaches will be inducted to provide better facilities to commuters.**

The Senate was informed on Wednesday that Pakistan Railway plans to induct 250 passenger coaches to provide better travelling facilities to the commuters.

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq told the House during question hour that about 180 **will be locally manufactured in **Carriage Factory Islamabad.

He said a tender for procurement of 800 high capacity hopper wagons for transportation of goods is in progress out of which, *590 **wagons will be manufactured at the **carriage factory. *

To a question, Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that the Chinese side has expressed the commitment to upgrade** Peshawar-Karachi rail line **by 2020 under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that the government has targeted upgradation of **21 railways stations **in the country with a total outlay of one thousand nine hundred and fifty six million rupees to be spent during the next three years.

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Pakistan Railways on right track now

November 10, 2015
By: Samaa Web Desk

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Pakistan Railways is one of the departments, which have been damaged by corruption, and mismanagement of the PPP led coalition Government from 2008 to 2013. During this tenure, we saw trains without locomotives, coaches without electricity, trains without fuel to run, daily protests of employees, death of a pensioner due to nonpayment, and several other bad incidents such as these.

It became impossible to settle the issues of Pakistan Railways, which is when Khawaja Saad Rafique accepted the challenge to put things in the right direction. In May 2013, our railways had only 95 locomotives, out of which only 55 were running, while 28 power vans were available for
the electricity of air conditioned coaches.

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Two main things done by the Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique were the selection of honest officers on key posts, giving confidence to all workers and their union leaders. Anjum Pervaiz was appointed as General Manager of Pakistan Railways. This team, under the leadership of Saad Rafique, worked hard and gave their best. In 2014, Anjum Pervaiz was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Railways after his retirement, which means that the Minister wanted him to be with the department because of his success in improving the department in a very short period.

After two and half years of the current Government, the Railways has over 200 locomotives, out of which 50 locomotives are being used for freight trains, while earlier no locomotive was available for freight services. Now, the Railway authorities are signing contracts with different companies for the transportation of their goods, while it gets momentum in the transportation of coal to various power projects. Workers are now happy to work because the heavy machineries of Railways are now working properly.

Service of trains and staff are also improving after long time. Trains now reach their destinations on time and even if late, it is only by a difference of 2 to 3 hours, which previously, would be a delay of more than 24 hours.

NAB is investigating eight different corruption cases of Railways and all these cases belong to the last era, which was under the leadership of ANP leader Ghulam Bilour. The NAB has so far arrested former GM of Railways, Saeed Akhtar along with 7 other officials.
Pakistan Railways earned Rs 5 Billion more than the target given by the Government in 2014-15 and Rs 2 Billion more in 2013-14 fiscal year; however, its deficit is still Rs. 35 Billion, which is a long way to go.

Railways Senior GM, Javed Anwar says that,” we now feel happy when passengers approach us for getting tickets and proper seats of the trains, because in previous regime, nobody bothered to contact us for seats. It is a healthy sign and proof of improvement. Now, trains are full of people; many passengers don’t even mind to stand rather than sitting.”

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Re: Pakistan Railways expects Rs 6 Billion More Income

Panchi pai kis lo bewaqoof bana rahay ho.

He was DEN Multan and how much he earned form commissions from thekedaars go and look for his properties bank balance. Sala PPP government main officer tha to haramkhor, magar PML(N) government officer hay to imandaar. kya kakaballi logic hay. :)

He was staunch supporter of Yousaf Raza Gilani when he was Railway minister in BB's government. By the way he was very good friend of mine when I was also posted at Multan. :)

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Not surprising.

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^ :D good catch

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Re: Pakistan Railways expects Rs 6 Billion More Income

He was like 'chaploss' type of friend whenever he saw his material advantage. I haven't forgotten how he kissed arse of former PPP Railway minister when we were invited in a dinner party at his residence in Multan :)

However more relavent comment of mine was "Sala PPP government main officer tha to haramkhor, magar PML(N) government officer hay to imandaar. kya kakaballi logic hay" :)

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aqalmand ke liay ishara hi kaafi hay :) Othewise maj ke aagay been bajana :)

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Not yet. Has he taken any action? panchi pai, promotional jhooth aor haqiqat main farq hota hay

At least 14 dead as Jaffar Express derails in Bolan, scores injured - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

The train derailed due to a failure of the brakes of the train while it was en route Rawalpindi from Quetta.— DawnNews screengrab

The victims were shifted to hospitals in Quetta where an emergency has been declared in all hospitals.— DawnNews screengrab

The train derailed due to a failure of the brakes of the train while it was en route Rawalpindi from Quetta.— DawnNews screengrab

The train derailed due to a failure of the brakes of the train while it was en route Rawalpindi from Quetta.— DawnNews screengrab

The victims were shifted to hospitals in Quetta where an emergency has been declared in all hospitals.— DawnNews screengrab

QUETTA: At least 14 people were killed and over 150 injured when four bogies of the Jaffar Express derailed in Ab-i-Gum area of the Bolan district on Tuesday. The dead include the driver of the train and his assistant.
"Four carriages of the Rawalpindi-bound train which left Quetta Railway station were derailed near Ab-i-Gum area of Bolan district, some 75 kilometres from Quetta city,” said Akbar Hussain Durrani, the home secretary of Balochistan.
“The incident happened because the brakes of the train failed.”
The victims were shifted to hospitals in Quetta where an emergency has been declared in all hospitals.
The provincial home secretary was earlier quoted as saying that at least 16 people died in the train accident.
However, while talking to DawnNews, Durrani confirmed that 14 people died in the fatal accident.
A quick reaction force of FC Balochistan along with ambulances reached at site of train accident for rescue operation, read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Two MI-17 helicopters of Pakistan Army have also flown from Quetta for the rescue operation, the statement added.
In a update released by ISPR, 47 injured passengers have been shifted to Combined Medical Hospital (CMH) Quetta using Pakistan Army’s Mi-17 helicopters.
Another 14 injured passengers were also shifted to CMH Quetta by army ambulances.

An FC soldier helps the injured. -ISPR
FC troops also shifted 63 injured passengers to Mach hospital.
Also read: 19 die as train carrying army men falls into canal near Gujranwala
Among the dead so far confirmed are 12 passengers, the train driver and his assistant, and two members of the railway police, Durrani said.
He praised the residents of a nearby village who helped with the rescue efforts.
Train services between Balochistan and the rest of the country have been restored.
Earlier this month, three passengers of Jaffar Express were killed and 11 others were injured in a bomb blast on a railway track near Dasht area in Mastung district.
Those killed and injured were railway employees travelling in the first bogey of Jaffar Express going to Rawalpindi from Quetta. The banned United Baloch Army (UBA) had claimed responsibility for the blast.

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Wo to theek ha par jo PPP ne apnay last tenure main “GREAT RAPID ACTION FORCE” banee thi, museebat zada logon ki help k leay, wo kidhar hai? ye fauji kyon?

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Re: Pakistan Railways expects Rs 6 Billion More Income

panchi pai railway ki aap har promotional khabar chaptay ho. kabhi sach bhol lya karo. In Sibi-Quetta section locomotives are running without dynamic brakes. Do you or your minister know what dynamic brake is? The most dangerous gradient 1:50 perhaps in the world is in this section where conventional brakes do not work. Instead of doing lip service by your minister, he should pay immediate attention to this problem as it is lethal threat to many lives who travel in this section. A number of accidents did happen in the past due to failure of dynamic brakes.

Advise: google what ‘dynamic brake’ on DE locomotives is? :slight_smile:

**Train drivers press for engines with dynamic brake control system - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
**

QUETTA: The provincial capital remained cut off from northern parts of Balochistan and Sindh for the second consecutive day on Monday as railway authorities cancelled two passenger trains.

However, Jaffar Express and Akbar Bugti Express left for Rawalpindi and Lahore respectively several hours late.

The passengers who had purchased tickets for Bolan Mail to travel to Karachi and Chaman by another train faced difficulties because the railway authorities did not inform them about cancellation of the trains.

Take a look: Train drivers go on strike in Quetta

The railway officials said four trains, including Jaffar Express and Akbar Bugti Express, were on track.

Quetta division’s Chief Controller Mohammad Kashif Khan told Dawn that efforts were being made to meet the demands of locomotive drivers who were on strike.

He said the protesting drivers had been demanding locomotives which had the dynamic brake control system.

Dynamic brakes had been installed in four engines carrying trains to and from Quetta, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The demands of the Quetta division had been sent to the Railway headquarters, the chief controller added.

“It is the job of the mechanical engineering section to send equipment for installing in locomotives.”

Kashif Khan said it would take time to install dynamic brakes in all locomotives running between Quetta and other cities.

Meanwhile, the protesting drivers said they were ready to operate trains which were in good condition and had locomotives fitted with the dynamic brake control system. “It is not a matter of saving lives of railway employees only but also of thousands of passengers,” they said.

Mohammad Hussain, the leader of the striking drivers, said they were running locomotives with air brakes, while drivers had been demanding locomotives with dynamic brake control.

“Locomotives running trains in other parts of the country have both systems of brake control.”

Out of 15 locomotives at the Quetta division, only four had dynamic brake control system.

A senior railway officer said the situation would normalise in three to four days because the dynamic brake control system was being installed in other locomotives too.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015

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Railways may generate Rs 38 billion revenue

December 03, 2015
RECORDER REPORT
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Pakistan Railways (PR) is expecting to generate revenue of about Rs 38 billion against the set target of Rs 32 billion in the current financial year, after induction of new locomotives, increasing number of freight trains and upgrading stations to attract more business, it is learnt.

Railways deficit reduced from Rs 37 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 27 billion in 2014-15 while revenue increased from Rs 18 billion in 2013-14 to about Rs 32 billion in 2014-15. However, several measures have been taken to attract more business in coming months which would result in further reduction in Railways deficit and generating higher revenue.

The officials claimed that management is focused on restricting Railways deficit to around Rs 22-24 billion in the current year. Railways has surpassed the revenue target of about Rs 14 billion set for the first five months of the current financial year.

However, the officials said that the main reason behind introduction of reforms and innovations in services was timely releases from the Finance Ministry. The government earmarked Rs 41 billion under the PSPD for 2015-16 and according to the Planning Commission Rs 8 billion has already been released to Railways. The government had earmarked Rs 39 million to PR for 2014-15 which was duly released.

The PR has decided to outsource three passenger trains with commercial management and passenger facilitation which would help reduce the current loss of about Rs one billion per annum to the national exchequer. Railways has also decided to upgrade 16 railways stations while three stations including Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar would be handed over to China. These stations would be modernised under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and would have world class facilities.

Officials said that freight trains were considered main sources of income and passenger trains are always subsidised across the world to provide relief to passengers. The growth in cargo trains operations from merely 30 trains per month in 2013 to over 350 operating now is generating good revenue.

The PR has procured 55 new locomotives from China during 2014-15 which helped increase revenue, besides improving punctuality of train services. The PR is also planning to procure 250 new coaches to provide best possible facilities to the passengers. Railways sources further revealed to thus correspondent that 186 coaches will be manufactured in Carriage Factory Islamabad. Work on tender to procure 800 high capacity hopper wagons is also in progress. Out of these wagons, 595 wagons will be manufactured at the carriage factory.

The PR is going to start freight trains to facilitate Afghan Transit Trade. Sources revealed that the PR has finalised and shared rate list with all stakeholders for lifting the cargo under the APTTA. According to the list fare for 20 feet container Rs 83,000 from Karachi to Torkham border is proposed and Rs 143,000 for 40 feet containers.

The Railways is planning to procure 20 Diesel Electric (DE) locomotives to be used in coal operations for Sahiwal and Jamshoro power plants. Specification for 20 locomotives of (2000-2500 HP) is under finalisation and international tender will be floated shortly. Two of the locomotives will be in Completely Built-Up (CBU) while 18 in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) form.

The PR has signed another agreement with General Electric Company, an American company for 55 D.E locomotives of (4000-4500 HP) and would start supplying in 16 months. The procurement of 75 D.E locomotives are required to replace the 242 over-aged locomotives (54 percent of present fleet of 451). According to new condemnation plan 262 locos will be condemned by 2019-2020.

The officials maintained that as per revised business plan, in the light of vision 2025, share of PR in national transport sector is targeted to increase from 4 percent to 20 percent by year 2025. To increase one percent share, at least 25-30 locos are required. Hence the subject project of new locomotives is inevitable.

The present fleet owned by PR contains mostly overage and obsolete design wagons which are not capable to operate at high speed resulting in higher turn round. New design bogie wagons, fitted with roller bearings and air brakes etc, will work at higher speeds to achieve lesser turn round and down time for maintenance. This will lead to better operational efficiency and effective utilisation of operational assets.

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how about the strike by locomotive operators who refused to operate sub-standard locos. they say they are dangerous to operate. at least two accident recently were attributed to defects in the locomotives which the Pakistan Railway conveniently blamed on the loco pilots who died in those accidents and can NOT speak to defend themselves?

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Panchi pai kissi sach khabar par bhi kuch farmain?

Station masters’ strike hits train schedule - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

SUKKUR: People travelling by train faced problems when their trains were halted for more than one hour at Mirpur Mathelo and Machi Goth railway stations due to a token strike of station masters on Wednesday.

According to reports, on the call of the All Pakistan Railway Station Masters Association, a token strike was observed. As a result, private railway express trains Hazara Express going up-country was halted at the railway station of Mirpur Mathelo while Shalimar Express going to Karachi was halted at the railway station of Machi Goth. They were not given green signals to pass through the stations for more than one hour. People faced problems as nothing was available for eating on food stalls at the stations.

The station masters were demanding their promotions, higher pay scale according to seniority as well as increase in their salaries and other facilities.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015

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^ He will only show up when next behind-kissing article is published to promote dacoos of PMLN

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Govt working on new railway tracks under CPEC: report

By News Desk
Published: December 20, 2015

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PHOTO: Radio Pakistan

The government has planned major installation and upgradation of railway tracks under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

Under the plan, new railway tracks will be laid from Gwadar to Quetta and Jacobabad via Besima.

Five hundred and sixty kilometres of track will be laid from Bostan to Kotla Jam on Main Line-II via Zhob and Dera Islamil Khan, while 682km of track will be laid from Havelian to Khunjrab, the state-run broadcaster’s website said.
ECNEC says yes to Neelum-Jhelum, CPEC road projects

Upgradation of 1,872km of railway track from Karachi to Peshawar via Kotri, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi (including Taxila-Havelian) – along with dualisation of track from Shahdara to Peshawar – will also be carried out.
Some 1,254 kilometres of railway track from Kotri to Attock City via Dadu, Larkana, Jacobabad, DG Khan, Bhakkar, Kundian will also be upgraded.

Further, the government on Saturday gave its final go-ahead to four mega projects, including two road construction schemes under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at a revised cost of Rs862 billion – Rs214 billion or one-third higher than original estimates.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the 969-megawatt Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project as well as CPEC’s 118-kilometre long Havelian-Thakot and 392-km Sukkur-Multan section roads. It also approved the National Highway N-70 East-West Road Improvement Project.

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Saad claims PR on track to progress now

December 13, 2015

SIALKOT

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that the government’s policies have put the Pakistan Railways on the road to progress and stability after steering it out of “ICU” of corruption and financial losses.

Addressing inaugural ceremony of the** Narowal Railway Station Upgradation Project**, he said that now the PR is making progress day by day.

The project would be completed under the supervision of NESPAK in a stipulated period of 16 months with total estimated cost of Rs 351 million. This project would cover an area of 62,000 square feet.

The minister said that the PML-N government remained successful in reducing the annual deficit of Pakistan Railways (PR) from Rs32 billion to Rs27 billion, which would further be brought down to Rs23 billion in the next year. He said that the government was making hectic efforts to make Pakistan Railways a profitable service by providing quality journey services for the commuters across Pakistan.

He said that a lot of work was yet to be done gradually by the government to improve the railway infrastructure in the country besides ensuring early repairing of its over-aged railways engines and rusting tracks.

Rafique announced the speed of trains from persisting 35-40km/hour on old railway track between Narowal to Lahore to 60-65km/hour by ensuring early repairing of the tracks.

He said that the feasibility reports were also being prepared to ensure Narowal-Sialkot and Sialkot-Sambrial-Wazirabad rusting railway tracks for repairing. He added that 21 selected railways stations across Pakistan are being upgraded as the government was committed to pulling the Pakistan Railways out of the financial crisis.