Railways – projects in progress
One hundred Chinese made stainless steel carriages
Sri Lanka Railways purchased 100 stainless steel carriages from China at a total cost of 3570 million rupees. The carriages have been shipped to Sri Lanka in four batches of 25 each. Of these four batches, three batches totalling 75 carriages have already arrived on the island. The last batch will arrive on January 25th.
Fifteen DMUs to be purchased from China
The Railway is set to purchase 15 Diesel Multiple Unit from China, these DMU units are expected to arrive on the island in mid 2008.
Colombo / Matara coastal railway line upgrading
The coastal railway line from Colombo to Matara is to be upgraded at a cost of US$ 167 million. RITES, India is set to undertake this task and negotiations have already been successfully concluded. Once the coastal line upgrade is completed, maximum speeds of 100 km/h will be possible. Sri Lanka Railways will in addition take delivery of 2 Locomotives and 15 Diesel Multiple Units from India under this project.
Kataragama Railway Extension
The Kataragama railway extension is currently being constructed under a three phase accelerated development program. The first phase of the construction has already begun and will consist of the 27 KM stretch from Matara to Beliatta costing 60 Million rupees; construction has already commenced on the bridge over the Nilwala River by the State Engineering Corporation. The second phase will consist from Beliatta to Weerawila and the final phase from Weerawila to Kataragama. The entire project is expected to take six years to complete and will cost around three billion rupees.
Colombo – Ragama Third Track
Laying of the Colombo – Ragama third track is nearly complete, with work remaining only on laying new tracks between the Dematagoda and Kelaniya railway stations over the new Kelaniya bridge. Illegal constructions along the route have been cleared and groundwork finished in most places.
Bridge Replacements
Five railway bridges have been completed with Austrian Assistance in Kelaniya, Seeduwa, Ja Ela, Pinwatta and Kalutara South. The Austrian Assistance will be further used to replace four more bridges in Benthota, Unawatuna, Kataluwa and Midigama as well as construct a bridge over Nilwala River for the Kataragama Railway.
Level Crossing Protection Systems
The Railway Department is planning to install fifty Level Crossing Protection Systems during the next calendar year. These systems are to be manufactured with technology developed at the University of Moratuwa. The department has already called for “expression of interest” from local manufactures to gain their proposals on the manufacture and supply of these new Level Crossing Protection Systems.
Source: Sri Lanka Railways Forum
Tags: carriages, coastal line, diesel multiple units, kalutara south, kelaniya, level crossing, locomotive, maximum speeds, proposals, railway bridges, railway line, stainless steel
