ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: With successful launch of the business express train between Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan Railways (PR) has moved forward and decided to outsource commercial management of Subak Raftar express train between Rawalpindi and Lahore under public-private partnership mode.

Presently, Subak Raftar being run by the PR is not a profitable intercity train and was not even covering the cost of fuel, General Manager Operations Pakistan Railways, Saeed Akhtar told Dawn on Saturday.

Subak Raftar was perhaps the first intercity express train introduced by Railways in good old days when fully engine-built rail cars were imported and introduced between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

As the traffic grew, the built-in engines were replaced by diesel locomotives with the addition of coaches.

However, Subak Raftar lost its popularity when Pakistan Railways introduced non-stop Margalla Express, a train between Rawalpindi and Lahore which reached its destination in less than five hours.

The Subak Raftar had six stops between Rawalpindi and Lahore and had to cater to the demands of people traveling by train to Jhelum, Lala Musa, Gujrat, Wazirabad and Gujranwala.

However, the collapse of train service due to shortage of locomotives and coaches badly affected the Subak Raftar too and presently it is running with low load of passengers without any hope to reach the destination in the stipulated timetable.

Saeed Akhtar explained that pursuing the policy of the government to engage the private sector in the train operations, Pakistan Railways has decided to outsource the service of Subak Raftar to the private sector with an objective of providing better traveling facilities to passengers.

Pakistan Railways has also decided to outsource the commercial managements of Shaheen Express between Sialkot and Karachi, Super Express between Malakwal and Karachi via Sargodha, Faisalabad and Multan, and Fareed Express from Lahore to Karachi via Kasur, Pakpattan and Lodhran.

Another express train – Shalimar Express – between Lahore and Karachi will start its journey under the private sector during the third week of this month.

The PR general manager disclosed that China and South Korea have shown interest in leasing out diesel locomotives to Pakistan Railways in the revised tendering. There was no positive response from any supplier in the first tender.   The tenders will again be opened on February 14, and it is being expected that a final decision to get locomotives on rent basis will be decided by the end of the month. Pakistan Railways may get nearly 50 locomotives depending on the offer from the participating countries, Mr Akhtar said.

As far as the procurement of 150 locomotives are concerned, the general manager said, Pakistan Railways was currently going through the technical evaluation of the offers received from four suppliers belonging to United States and China.