Pakistan Railways Plans to Restore 36 Idle Locomotives by 2027 to Lift Operations and Revenue

Pakistan Railways has set a target of returning 36 non-operational locomotives to active service by June 2027, part of a broader effort to strengthen train operations and increase earnings, an official in the Ministry told the Associated Press of Pakistan.

According to the official, the national carrier currently runs a fleet of 439 locomotives, of which 267 are operational and 172 remain out of service. Under the restoration plan, 16 locomotives are expected to become operational by February 2027, while another 20 are scheduled to return after major overhauls by the end of 2026. A further unit, locomotive No. 9021, will rejoin the fleet after necessary repairs and fitment by June 2027.

The department has also approached the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to explore restoring 69 locomotives. In addition, a PC-I document covering the modernization of 35 locomotives has been submitted to the Ministry of Planning, though it has not yet been taken up for consideration. Officials expect the restoration drive to improve engine availability and support growth in both passenger and freight revenue.

Beyond locomotive repairs, Pakistan Railways has upgraded onboard and station facilities across its network. Modern coaches and state-of-the-art dining cars now operate on the Shalimar Express, Pak Business Express and Islamabad Express. LED screens, water dispensers and janitorial services are available on all trains, with similar upgrades extended to outsourced services such as the Green Line, Pak Business, Shah Hussain and Subak Raftar.

Premium dining cars are running on the Khyber Mail, Allama Iqbal Express and Rehman Baba, while seven premium trains now offer complimentary high tea, bedding, newspapers, hygiene kits and mineral water. Train hostesses have also been introduced on the Islamabad Express.

At stations, escalators have been installed in Karachi and Lahore, and information desks and free Wi-Fi now cover stations that handle nearly 80 percent of total passenger footfall. Waiting halls have been upgraded in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, and a new multi-story Train Dispatching Building has been completed at Lahore station.