Pakistan Railways plans to bring 36 idle locomotives back by June 2027
Pakistan Railways plans to return up to 36 non-operational locomotives to service by June 2027. An official in the Ministry of Railways says 172 of its 439 locomotives are currently out of service.
- Up to 36 idle locomotives are to return to service by June 2027.
- Of 439 locomotives, 267 are operational and 172 are not.
- Talks are under way with the original manufacturer on restoring 69 more.
Pakistan Railways plans to bring up to 36 non-operational locomotives back into service by June 2027. The aim is to improve train operations, raise engine availability and increase revenue from passenger and freight services, according to reports by ProPakistani and TechJuice.
An official in the Ministry of Railways said the department has a fleet of 439 locomotives. Of these, 267 are operational and 172 are out of service.
Under the plan, 16 locomotives are expected to become operational by February 2027. Another 20 are expected to return after major overhauls by the end of 2026. Locomotive No. 9021 will return to service after repairs and fitment by June 2027.
Beyond the 36, Pakistan Railways has contacted the original equipment manufacturer to explore restoring 69 more locomotives. A PC-I for modernising 35 locomotives has been submitted to the Ministry of Planning and has yet to be considered.
The reports also list passenger facilities already in place. Modern dining cars and coaches run on the Shalimar Express, Pak Business Express and Islamabad Express. Premium dining cars operate on Khyber Mail, Allama Iqbal Express and Rehman Baba, and train hostesses have been introduced on the Islamabad Express.
Seven premium trains offer complimentary high tea, bedding, newspapers, hygiene kits and mineral water. LED screens, water dispensers and janitorial services are available on all trains, with similar upgrades on outsourced services including Green Line, Pak Business, Shah Hussain and Subak Raftar.
At stations, escalators are installed in Karachi and Lahore, and information desks and free Wi-Fi cover stations handling nearly 80 percent of passenger footfall. Waiting halls have been upgraded in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, and CIP lounges operate in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.
A new multi-storey Train Dispatching Building has been completed at Lahore station, and Peshawar Cantt Station has been extensively renovated. Ticket vending machines, electronic information boards, wheelchairs and ramps are available, and concessional fares remain for students, senior citizens, journalists and persons with disabilities.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 9 November that Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said Pakistan Railways had crossed the Rs100 billion target for the first time, naming Rs160 billion as the next target. On 6 November we reported that the railways approved a roadmap to raise its freight share from 8 percent to about 20 percent after the ML-1 upgrade.
Why it matters for Pakistan
Passengers on routes such as the Islamabad Express and Shalimar Express depend on available engines to run services. With 172 of 439 locomotives idle, restoring 36 would add to the working fleet. Railways has set revenue targets, including Rs160 billion, and engine availability bears on both passenger and freight income.
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