News
Smarting engine drivers get timetables changed
Train timetables are to be altered to minimise delays following chaos caused by train cancellations on Friday, the latest of a series of problems that have upset tens of thousands of commuters, with 30 trains cancelled in a week.
The Transport Ministry has agreed to a proposal by the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union (LOEU) to make alterations to timetables.
On Friday, several trains were delayed and at least three of them were cancelled following a dispute between passengers and a railway guard at Maradana over a late-running train.
LOEU General Secretary K.A.U Konthasingha
The passengers had verbally abused a guard when their train was delayed. The guard had refused to continue the journey. Railway authorities and railway security were forced to intervene.
On Thursday, the engine drivers’ union, LOEU, held a meeting with the Minister of Transport Kumar Welgama and Ministry Secretary Dammika Perera to resolve issues related to maintaining of railway services.
LOEU General Secretary K.A.U Konthasingha told the SundayTimes that a decision had been taken to monitor delays of trains and identify the reasons leading to the delays in order to adjust timetables
‘‘Drivers have speed limits and signal problems and find it difficult to keep to the existing timetable,” he said.
He said trains that face major delays must have their timetables adjusted to realistic times.
He said that it was proposed that the lines should be checked in the event trains are delayed twice in three days. The checks commenced from Friday.
“Regular signal checking is happening and the Minister has advised railway authorities to check on lines and repair them. He advised the chief engineer to repair tracks in order to remove the speed restrictions imposed on the main line,” he said.
Mr. Konthasinghe expressed hope that the delays of trains will be reduced within the next week as repairs are carried out enabling the lifting of speed restrictions.
A decision was also taken to set up an Independent safety commission to look into the matters of safety of commuters and drivers, he said.
Fort Station: Commuters waiting for trains that never came during the recent Railway workers’ work-to rule strike
Angry complaints have been pouring in over train delays.
“We are working people who travel by office trains and what we need is fast transport but what happens is we are kept waiting a long time on platforms,” said who Mohamed Sanaan who takes a train daily to work at an embassy.
S.W. Madanayake said he had seen an increase in train delays in recent times. “My children are waiting until I come home. When trains get cancelled and run late my children are worried,” he said.
“Confrontations between commuters and engine drivers must end,” he added. “Violence is no way to solve matters. Drivers have a hard time and people lose employment and some workers who work for day payments lose their income due to train delays,” he said.
“Assaulting the engine driver would only make the situation worse. When C.G.R. workers assault passengers it shatters the bond between the commuter and railway workers which brings a bad name for the railway services,’’ he said.
A senior manager of a CSR project, Rukmanee Rathnayake, said train delays affected long-distance passengers who got home very late.
Railway Operations Superintendent L.A.R Rathnayake told theSunday Times that in an incident in Alawwa people had become angry due to the train delays and assaulted the driver and they stopped the train by putting concrete sleepers on the tracks.
He said the incident prompted the delay of 15 trains.
He said there were many reasons for these delays including engine problems, signalling problems and problems in the railway tracks. Safety was a priority, he emphasised, and delays occurred when considering safety.
“There is no need for people to take matters into their hands and have clashes with drivers,” he said.
He said there were signal failures and speed restrictions imposed due to the poor state of signal systems and tracks.
In addition, some of the locomotives experienced technical difficulties because they were old.
Installing a new signaling system would a big project and could not be carried out with only limited resources.
The All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union President, S.P. Vithanage said due to the attack on the engine driver in Alawwa most engine drivers had reported sick and this had resulted in the cancellation of 10 trains.