LAHORE, May 4: The existing signalling systems of the Pakistan Railways neither meet the safety requirements of higher speeds nor the growing traffic density, and the risk of their malfunctioning cannot be ruled out which may result in accidents.

“Had there been modern signalling systems, tragedies like the triple-train accident at the Sarhad station on July 13 last year and the derailment of 10 coaches of the Karakoram Express near Samasatta junction on Feb 4 could have been avoided,” said the participants in a seminar at the railways headquarters here on Thursday.

They were of the opinion that modern signalling systems were a prerequisite for ensuring safety of travelling public by avoiding train accidents, enhancing transportation efficiency and capacity at higher speed.

A firm each from Sweden, Germany and the US and two from China sent representatives to the seminar, which was organised to discuss modalities of upgrading the outdated signalling system on the Pakistan Railways network. No company from the UK turned up.

The representatives presented an overview of the systems their companies had installed on certain railway networks in the world.

The representative of a Chinese firm was, however, barred from referring to the cancellation of an agreement signed in the presence of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao in Beijing in 2003 for the provision of modern signalling system.

Railways chairman Shakil Durrani, who presided over the seminar, directed the PR signals department to withdraw the PC-1 plans from the ministry, revise and submit the same at the earliest so that tenders could be called for the replacements of the systems on Kotri-Rohri and Rohri-Khanewal sections.

Earlier, Railways Chief Engineer (Signals) Muhammad Ashraf explained the salient features and status of the existing signalling systems on the PR network and spelt out proposals for their replacement or upgradation.

The first priority, he proposed, should be to replace the systems from Karachi to Lalamusa, primarily because it had become obsolete.

Speed on Lodharan-Khanewal, Khanewal-Shahdara, Kotri-Rohri, Rohri-Khanewal and Khanewal-Raiwind sections cannot be enhanced to 140 kilometres per hour unless modern systems were installed there.

The old systems of overhead wires on Rohri-Jacobabad-Sibi-Quetta, Sher Shah-Kundian-Attock City, Lalamusa-Peshawar Cantt, Kotri-Dadu-Habibkot, Lodhran-Pakpattan-Raiwind, Shahdara-Narowal-Wazirabad, Jacobabad-Kot Adu sections were not being maintained by the PTCL, badly affecting the railway operations there.

The second priority, Mr Ashraf said, should be to change the systems on Karachi-Kotri, Faisalabad-Shahdara, Shahdara-Lalamusa and Khanewal-Faisalabad sections.

“The existing systems on Karachi-Kotri can be used for another 10 years or so and are fit for 140 kms/hr speed. Modern systems should be installed when doubling of track projects are approved for other sections,” he said.

At present, he said no signalling equipment was manufactured locally. Signal, telecommunication or power cables were being made in the country. The bidders would be asked to submit proposals to manufacture the signalling equipment locally for maximum indigenisation.

General Manager (Operations) Saleemur Rahman Akhoond and GM (Maintenance and Infrastructure) Mushtaq Khan Jadoon and other senior officers also attended the seminar.