News
State-run railway running on shaky ground
Derailments and delays occur because tracks are worn and needed to be replaced. (Pix by M A Pushpa Kumara)
Worn-down rail tracks and the lack of funding to replace them may mean commuters on the State-operated train network will have to endure disruptions and trains going off track for some time to come.
Locomotive Operating Engineers Union President K U Konthasinghe said engine operators have been told to reduce speed. Signal failures are a problem as well.
Mr Konthasinghe also said there is a shortage of track maintenance workers.
A railway track reconstruction programme which is supported by the Indian Government has been delayed.
The union has asked that rail tracks be imported.
“Government intervention is very much needed,” Mr Konthasinghe said.
Sri Lanka Railways General Manager W D Gunasinghe admitted that the derailments and accidents were happening because the tracks had worn down and needed to be replaced.
Many of the locomotives are also ageing hulks, and replacement could cost around Rs 1 billion. “I don’t see any likelihood the Government will replace them,” Mr Gunasinghe said.
The railway control room has changed the operating schedules to minimise derailments. There were several derailments and delays last week.
On Wednesday, two trains on the coastal line were disrupted at Wellawatte because a bridge was found to be damaged. About 10 trains along the affected line were cancelled.
On Tuesday, the intercity express which left at 5.20 am from Mount Lavinia to Kankasanturai, had reached Jaffna at 5 pm, well after the scheduled arrival time at 1.30 pm.
A Station Master on the northern line said train operating speed has been reduced due to track conditions and the rains.
He also confirmed that a new track will be built from Omanthai to Maho Junction.
Amal Kumarage, Senior Professor, Department of Transport and Logistics at Moratuwa University, said investment in railways had been marginal compared with that for highways. “Although we have had improvements in the highways in the past 10 years, there were no improvements in the railways.’’
T Sivakumar, a Senior Professor from the University of Moratuwa said: “Improper maintenance of railway tracks is the main reason for derailments.’’
A commuter, Mishal Cooray, mentioned a crowd-sourced app where rail-related updates are posted. “They (railway authorities) use to do maintenance regularly, but now they do not do it at all.’’
Trains that should operate at 60 kilometres per hour are running at 30Km/ph for the sake of safety.
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