Sri Lanka Railways Forum

Sri Lankan Railways (SLR) announced yesterday that over 20 prospective suppliers have collected tender applications from the Ministry of Transport in response to a recent worldwide tender issued by the Ministry to supply 15 locomotives at a cost of over Rs.4.5billion.

“We have received a big response for the tender and more than 20 prospective suppliers have collected tender applications from the Ministry. The expected cost will be between Rs.2.5 billion and Rs.4.5 billion” Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Nihal Somaweera told the Daily Mirror FT yesterday.

According to the Ministry, SLR has not purchased locomotive engines for the last 20 years except for eight French-built engines which were forced to be taken out of service due to technical failures.

“If the government decides to purchase from China, the cost of an engine will be between Rs.150 million and Rs.300 million. An European or Canadian engine will cost over Rs.300 million” the Secretary noted. SLR has already imported 100 rail coaches from China and another 35 Chinese power sets are expected arrive in the island by the end of the year under a special initiative suitably titled the ‘Railway Service Improvement Programme’ launched by the Minster for Transport Dulles Alahapperuma, Somaweera said. The tenders are expected to will be closed on the 4th of April.

By Sandun A Jayasekera

Source: Daily Mirror

Tags: china, initiative, locomotive engines, locomotives, prospective suppliers, rail coaches, railway service, railways, service improvement, sri lankan, technical failures, tenders

                            

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