Chinese carriages on track from October
The recently imported Chinese railway carriages will be in operation from mid October, General Manager of the Sri Lanka Railways Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said.
“Obtaining an International Standard Certificate for running conditions of the carriages on all railway tracks in the island is very important and these will be carried out before transporting passengers,” Dr. Gunaruwan said.
He said the carriages were made of stainless steel with Air Break systems and cannot be driven beyond Nawalapitiya in the up-country Railway Line and Kelani Valley Railway Line.
“There are 30 locomotive engines available with us but only 13 could operate with these Air Break systems. Others will be converted to fit the existing system,” he said.
Two carriages were linked for two Kandy Inter City Trains and others will be connected to the Ruhunu Kumari and Yaldevi express trains for the trial runs.
The first imported batch consisted of 25 passenger carriages and two Guard Rooms, he added.
The next batch of a total of 100 carriages have already been shipped and these will be received before end of this year, he said.
Dr. Gunaruwan stressed on the need for a local manufacturing plant of carriages for requirements of the Sri Lanka Railways and said the Department has already started a project for repairing damaged carriages at Ratmalana.
“The full repair of a carriage would cost only Rs. 2.3 million,” he stressed. Additional General Manager P.P. Wijesekera also attended the media conference.
Source: Daily News
Tags: air brakes, carriages, china, express trains, intercity express, locomotive engines, manufacturing plant, ruhunu kumari, stainless steel
