Pakistan Railways locomotives that have been sitting idle are the focus of a new repair push: railway sources say the department will overhaul 172 non-functional engines on an emergency basis to rebuild operational capacity across the network.
Why so many engines are offline
The national railway fleet totals 439 locomotives of different models. Sources put the working count at 267, leaving 172 out of service. That gap is what the emergency programme is meant to close. Officials have already reached out to manufacturers about repairing 69 of the idle units, and talks are continuing with the relevant firm over spare parts needed to bring engines back online.
Which locomotives return first
Ministry of Railways sources expect 36 locomotives to re-enter service over the next four months. Within that group, 20 ZCU-model engines are due within two months, while 16 AGE-model units are scheduled to become functional by February 2027. Separately, Pakistan Railways has prepared a PC-I—a formal development proposal—for modernising 35 GMU-model locomotives and sent it to the Ministry of Planning. Sources said no reply has come back yet on that plan.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- October 2026: Railway sources outline emergency repairs for 172 idle engines; 267 of 439 Pakistan Railways locomotives are described as operational, and makers are contacted for 69 units.
- Within two months of that update: 20 ZCU-model locomotives are expected to be restored.
- Over the following four months: 36 locomotives in total are expected to become operational again.
- By February 2027: 16 AGE-model engines are scheduled to return to service.
- Pending: A PC-I for modernising 35 GMU-model locomotives remains with the Ministry of Planning, with no response reported yet.
More working engines would ease pressure on the active fleet, though the sources did not spell out which services would gain first. Spare-parts negotiations and the Planning Ministry decision on the GMU modernisation will shape how quickly capacity recovers beyond the near-term batch.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan Railways ke 172 kharab engines ki emergency repair shuru ki ja rahi hai. Kul 439 mein se abhi 267 chal rahe hain. Agle kuch mahinon mein 36 engines wapas aane ki umeed hai. Is se trains chalana thora asaan ho sakta hai, lekin poora faida spare parts aur approvals par depend karta hai.
