CPEC Orange train will now use solar power

Lahore’s Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), the city’s first urban rail system, will be converted to solar power in order to reduce its growing annual electricity consumption of more than Rs 1.9 billion. Since the Chinese contractor CR-NORINCO, a joint venture between China State Railway Group (CR) and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), handed over the train to PMAT in 2020, the OLMT is run by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMAT). Ozair Shah, general manager (operation) of PMAT, stated in an exclusive interview with Gwadar Pro that electrifying OLMT with a solar system is unavoidable because the cost of electricity per unit varies between Rs. 18 and Rs. 21, which makes it infeasible to run the entire function of OLMT for an extended period of time.