GE to supply 20 locomotives to Pakistan Railways

LAHORE: General Electric (GE) Transportation on Wednesday announced it was entering a deal with Pakistan Railways to provide 20 FDL C20EMP locomotives, which would assist the latter improve as well as speed up its operations across the country’s mountainous northern terrain.

“We continue to make great strides towards reaching the transportation goal as part of the country’s Vision 2025 plan,” Khawaja Saad Rafique, federal minister Pakistan Railways, said addressing the ceremony.

These lighter weight 2,000 horsepower locomotives are designed to better maneuver high gradient tracks in the country. The AC/DC locomotives enable the unique tractive effort necessary to operate the country’s northern most landscape.  

Rafique added that modernizing rail transportation and improving regional connectivity were critical components of the government’s plan.   “Pakistan was confident that its relationship with GE would help achieve these goals,” the minister emphasised.  

The locomotives can serve both freight and passenger cargo, and will primarily be used between Karachi and Lahore, with Peshawar and Quetta added later on.     “GE’s long-standing relationship with Pakistan Railways is a testament to our reliability and innovation within the rail space,” Sarim Sheikh, president & CEO, GE Pakistan, told the meeting.  

Sheikh said that the GE was looking forward to delivering locomotives that would help the country reach its goals in improving rail infrastructure across the country, improving the quality of services to citizens and supporting the nation’s economy.

“The new locomotives may be dedicated to oil and freight supply, facilitating the business community in Faisalabad and Multan, by running a train each from these stations,” he added.   In 2015, GE and Pakistan Railways signed an agreement for 55 Evolutions Series Locomotives, of which 32 are already in country.

Similarly, Pakistan Railways’ agreement to purchase these light weight locomotives further supports the Government of Pakistan’s desire to increase the share of rail in transportation from 4 percent to 20 percent within the next 10 years.