Freight Pool Improved To 75 Locomotives To Increase Revenues: PR

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Sep, 2016 ) : Pakistan Railways, as part of its measures to increase share of freight earning and control losses, had ensured availability of locomotives in freight pool which was improved from 45 to 75.

"Yes, it is a fact that Pakistan Railways (PR) has controlled its losses during the last three years as competitive freight rates have been introduced to diversify traffic from road to rail," official sources said here Friday.

The sources said Freight Deposit Account (FDA) based agreements had been executed with long-lead bulk importers such as Maple Leaf cement Factory etc, while MOUs had been signed with importing companies for transportation of coal to long lead destination in up country.

At present, an average of 10 freight trains were being operated ex-port. With regard to control of losses, the sources said these had come down to Rs. 26.993 in 2015-16. The losses of the department were Rs.

32.527 billion in 2013-14 and Rs. 27.247 in 2014-15. Some other steps were also taken to control losses which included a massive quantity coal consisting of average five trains per day which would be transported by Pakistan Railways for Coal Fired Power Plants being established in public sector to overcome energy crises.

The sources said terminal facilities were being augmented by introducing latest equipments so as to curtail loading and un- loading time. High Capacity/High Speed Hopper Trucks were also being introduced for swift movement/unloading of coal while existing track on main corridor (ML-1) will also be upgraded.

The sources said Freight Transport company had been established to explore new venues for future freight traffic.

In passenger domain, the sources said under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Pakistan Railways had recently outsourced commercial management of four trains which would generate revenue of Rs.

3.35 billion per annum while commercial management of Luggage Vans and Brake Vans with different trains had also been outsourced under PPP. The other steps were reduction made in fare of different trains, introduction of Green line train between Rawalpindi-Karachi via Lahore with extra facilities and amenities for business community, Wifi facility was being introduced in selected trains and at different trains value added services had been introduced to attract passengers.

The sources said landmark agreement had been signed between PR and United Bank Limited (UBL) to provide facility of e-ticketing by end of October- 2016 which would revolutionize the whole concept of reservation and ticketing.

A major infrastructure improvement of important Railway stations had been started to give a new concept of state of the art buildings, passenger facilitation and modern business areas within station premises.

Economy class coaches were being replaced by air conditioned standard coaches to provide better travelling facilities, while extra coaches were also being attached to fetch more revenue and tremendous improvement had been made in service delivery.

The sources said to attract more passengers in month of Ramazan, special package was introduced over the network in which 07 % to 25% concession was allowed in different classes of different trains while running of Eid Special trains on eve of Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Azha was also ensured.