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Workers face severe delays from 30 train suspensions
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Stranded commuters at Maradana Railway Station (Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera)
By Sohan Vipulananda
Railway authorities say the lack of staff is the main reason for the suspensions of 30 more services this year causing distress to working people in particular.
Locomotive drivers of long-distance trains have been asked to operate trains serving office commuters. Long-distance trains were suspended when the arrival of tourists resumed in the last few months of 2022.
General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways W A D S Gunasinghe said apart from the staff shortages, the other reasons for suspensions include signalling breakdowns and the state of the tracks. There are also the risks of derailment because rail tracks have not been upgraded.
Mr Gunasinghe said railway commuter numbers have increased significantly and this leads to more delays. Stoppage time at stations has been increased to 3 minutes from 1 minute.
Daytime trains from Maradana to Panadura have been suspended.
“There are no plans to cancel more trains unless a more difficult situation occurs,” said Mr Gunasinghe.
Chairman of the Station Masters Union Sumedha Someratne also said further suspensions are not planned.
The Department of Railways has made the decision mainly due to staff shortages. Nearly 50% of employees, especially railway shunters, retired last year. Then, the Ministry of Transport and Highways said it would rehire retirees on contract.
Mr Someratne insisted that the Government must solve the issue. “Passengers are not happy.’’
More than 350 trains operate every day.
“It is very difficult from the commuters’ point of view,” he said. The train from Colombo Fort to Polgahawela is widely used.
Chairman of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union K U Konthasinghe, said commuters have been inconvenienced for two months.
The Sunday Times learns that the department is to discuss restoring of the 30 train services for the GCE Advanced Level examinations starting tomorrow.
All railway services from Colombo to Jaffna are suspended until mid-year due to track habilitation by India’s IRCON on the Northern Line.
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