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View(s):By Rekha Fonseka
Ninety of 100 Chinese railway carriages are idling at railway yards and workshops due to issues in their brake systems.
Engine drivers complained that the disc brake system is not suited for the Lankan railway track and refused to operate the trains, resulting in the compartments remaining unattended at yards.
A Right to Information request revealed that the 100 compartments had been obtained by spending Rs 6.4 billion, and yet 90 carriages remain in the Dematagoda, Maligawatta, Jaffna, and Anuradhapura yards.
The Sunday Times observed that the compartments are riddled with cobwebs while the seats are filled with dust.
According to the information obtained via the RTI, the Chinese train compartments were brought into the country from 2007 to 2024.
They were obtained by spending USD 22,105,200 under the China Government concession loan and preferential buyer credit.
They were used from 2007 to 2019. During those 12 years the compartments were used in passenger transportation in Bangadeniya, Polgahawela, Jaffna, Batticaloa lines, but afterwards 90 train compartments remained unused.
Engine drivers complained that the disc brakes originally fitted to the compartments had issues, and called strikes. While the strikes were on, Sri Lanka imported another locomotive engine, M11, and several carriages. Then railway authorities decided to use the Indian train compartments than re-doing the braking system in the Chinese carriages.
Therefore the Chinese train compartments have been left unattended and without maintenance for five years.
General Manager of Railways Dammika Jayasundara was unavailable for comment.
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