Report by Engineering Post
Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory Islamabad is likely to roll out the first batch of 12 high-speed passenger coaches by June 2025.
This was the first time ever that high-speed passenger coaches were being manufactured in Pakistan which obviously signifies a milestone. However , when these high-speed passenger coaches were rolled out of the Carriage Factory, these will be operating on the existing low speed rail track as the country was lacking high speed lines or trains that can fully utilize capabilities of these coaches as the up gradation and dualisation of the Main Line (ML-1) from Karachi to Peshawar continues to hang in balances for some years. The new passenger coaches , as and when manufactured and rolled out , will be capable of speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour whereas the existing track was not capable of letting trains run for more than 75 kilometers per hour.
Pakistan Railways had signed an agreement in 2021 with CRRC Tangshan of China for the manufacturing of 230 passenger coaches with a due focus of transferring the technology to Pakistan. The new passenger coaches incorporate features such as air spring bodies, electric hot axle detection , and speed.
Under the project, 184 high-speed coaches were also additionally scheduled to be produced by 2027 thereby further enhancing the railways network of the country According to the Carriage Factory officials, the different types of coaches such as economy and air conditioned coaches vary in costs.
The Carriage Factory in Islamabad was established way back in 1970 with the cooperation of the French company Alstom was historically focusing on producing electric and diesel locomotives and coaches. The modernization of the facility along with the transfer of technology from China was being seen as something essential for the future growth of Pakistan Railways.
