Indian Railways to lease locomotives to Pakistan

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To ‘improve trade ties between the two countries’, Indian Railways (IR) is working on a proposal to lease 50 locomotives to Pakistan Railways (PR).

Indian Railways will be leasing 50 of the 3000 HP locomotives at a rate of $30 per hour. It will also provide training facilities for Pakistan railwaymen to run Indian locomotives.

Previously, it was reported that the team of Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services Limited (PRACS) had held preliminary discussions with the officials of Railway Infrastructure, Technical and Economic Services (RITES) for buying Indian locomotives.

But, many in the Indian Railways ‘were not keen in selling locomotives citing local demands’.

If this deal goes through, Pakistan’s rail system will get new life and they can start some passengers’ services that were suspended due to non availability of locos. As per the current estimate, out of 520 locomotives, only 76 locomotives are operating.

A senior Railway Ministry official said:

“If the supply takes place then it will be for the first time that Indian Railways will come to the aid of Pakistan.

“Railways supply about 10 locomotives on an average in a year. Generally, we sell locos on outright purchase basis to other countries but this will be for the first time that we are considering to give it on hiring basis because Pakistan Railways is preferring leasing to buying,” the official added.

Indian Railways produces 500 locomotives every year from its two engines manufacturing units.

Currently, it regularly supplies locomotives to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana.

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