RAWALPINDI, May 5: As the Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory (CFI) near Islamabad is in the process of upgradation, it is rapidly moving towards self-reliance in the manufacturing of passenger coaches.
The transfer of technology from China is in last stages, and within next six months it would enable the Carriage Factory self- reliant in manufacture coaches, sources in the Ministry of Railways told Dawn.
In the process of the transfer of technology, Chinese experts imparted training to the technical staff of the Carriage Factory. Similarly, workers of the Factory were also sent to China for further training, the sources said.
CFI does not import bogies in complete built unit (CBU). Almost seventy-five per cent of reliance has been gained in manufacturing coaches in complete knock-down (CKD) condition. These sources further said that CFI is also seriously considering acquiring technology to replace the mechanism of steel coil spring with air spring in bogies frames. “Once this technology is gained and applied, our railway coaches would become riding comfort,” he said.
According to the sources, the project of procurement and manufacture of 175 passenger coaches by the Carriage Factory would also be completed by end of 2006. A total of 145 coaches have been put into service while the balance 30 coaches are being in the process of assembling at the Carriage Factory.
Pakistan Railways had 1910 coaches on its system at the end of 2005. Out of which 575 coaches were overage. It was decided to rehabilitate 450 coaches out of over aged coaches.
The scheme was approved at an estimated cost of Rs2145 million. Rehabilitation of Coaches commenced in 2003 in Pakistan Railways, Carriage Factory, Islamabad and presently 400 coaches have been rehabilitated and put on track. The project would be completed by September 2006.
Pakistan Railways also plan to procure and manufacture 150 passenger coaches in the near future. The project would cost Rs5,977 million with foreign exchange component of Rs3,966 million. Under the plan, it will procure 40 coaches in CBU condition and 110 coaches in CKD condition.
The Carriage Factory Islamabad, established in 1971 as a part of Pakistan Railways’ emphasis on acquiring self-sufficiency in production of rolling stock, is equipped to manufacture coaches, carry out refurbishment and modification of ordinary coaches to air-conditioned coaches. Its manufacturing capacity on single shift basis is 150 passenger coaches per year. Up to March 2006, the Factory rehabilitated 651 coaches for Pakistan Railways.
Under an agreement with the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) signed in 2001, augmentation of plant and machinery at the Carriage Factory in Islamabad and the Moghalpura Workshop in Lahore and on Divisions, and transfer of technology for manufacture of high speed carriages and bogies at CFI would take place.
