PR plans to extend electrified traction from Lahore to Samasatta

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has chalked out a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation of existing Lahore-Khanewal Electrified section and extended it from Khanewal to Samasatta section to the tune of Rs 3041 million, a government official told Online here on Sunday.

He said that it has been proposed to extend the electric traction from Khanewal-Samasatta to have economic run of electric locomotives.

He said that the scheme would provide economical run for electric locomotives fleet, as the electric locomotives are less expensive for maintenances.

He said that it would also enhance the fuel saving to the tune of Rs154 million annually.

He said that the 25 KV AC, Single Phase Electric Traction system was introduced in 1970 over the 286 km Lahore-Khanewal main line section at a cost of Rs142,000 million including the cost of 29 electric locomotives which were intensively utilized to fulfill the objectives of electrification.

He said that after thirty years of successful operation, the existing electric traction system is being renovated and extended from Khanewal to Samasatta.

He said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, Pakistan Railways conducted the first successful trail run of its fast train with the speed of 142 km/hour, taking a leap forward to enter modern speed era.

He said that high speed trains will be equipped with Automatic Train protection system (ATPS), VHF walkie-talkies and a new signaling system in order to overcome human error and making railway journey safety-proof.

He said that PR would be improving safety and reducing journeys time at a steady rate.