Pakistan Railways to upgrade air-conditioning in 153 passenger coaches

ISLAMABAD, Jan 17 (APP): Pakistan Railways (PR) has launched an extensive program to replace outdated air-conditioning units in its passenger coaches, aiming to restore comfort and improve the overall quality of travel.
According to a document available with Wealth Pakistan, currently 231 air-conditioned coaches are in operation, while demand for AC-equipped coaches stands at 208. The replacement project targets 153 coaches, with 85 units already replaced.
By March 2026, 68 more AC units are slated for replacement, marking a significant stride towards meeting the growing demand for comfortable travel.
Separately, Pakistan Railways is actively working to strengthen passenger train operations by restoring power vans currently under maintenance.
According to the documents available with Wealth Pakistan, Pakistan Railways has a total fleet of 86 power vans, which provide essential electricity for lighting, air-conditioning and other passenger amenities. Of these, 54 power vans are presently available for operation, supporting the running of passenger trains across the network.
The railway system requires 70 power vans for smooth train operations, a figure that includes maintenance planning and a spare cushion to ensure reliability. The data show that 16 power vans are currently undergoing repairs in workshops, reflecting ongoing efforts to rehabilitate assets and enhance fleet availability.
A Pakistan Railways official told Wealth Pakistan that the power vans in workshops are being systematically addressed through maintenance and overhauling, which is expected to gradually increase the number of units available for operation. Once restored, these power vans will help narrow the gap between operational availability and overall requirements.
He said the continued focus on maintenance underscores Pakistan Railways’ commitment to improving passenger comfort and operational resilience, particularly for long-distance and air-conditioned services that rely heavily on dependable power supply.