First consignment of power sets from China arrive
Sri Lanka yesterday received the first three power sets of the 15 power sets (Class S-10) to be shipped from China .
Transport Minister Dullas Allahapperuma yesterday visited the Colombo Harbour to receive the power sets.
The power sets will ply on the main line covering the Chilaw line. The new power sets are designed to provide a comfortable ride to the railway commuters and also avoid delays.
The Minister said one power set costs Rs.350 million. The Government has spent around Rs. 5,500 million for the 15 power sets.
He said with the addition of these new 15 power sets, the total number of power sets will increase to 50. Minister Allahapperuma said this is one of the pledges given in the Mahinda Chinthanaya.
View: Pictures of the class S10
With the introduction of a fleet of new power sets to the Sri Lanka Railways the target of the government to provide a quality service to commuters by 2009 will be fulfilled, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.
Accepting the first three power sets out of a consignment of 15 made and imported from China at the Colombo Port, Minister Alahapperuma said the Railway Service will come to a satisfactory level after three decades of neglect and step-motherly treatment to the service and inefficiency and corruption within.
It is a known fact that there was an attempt to privatise the Sri Lanka Railway Service in the recent past.
The policy of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime is to protect state assets for the nation and keep away from the privatization.
The Railway Service had been a neglected section of the government planning and funds were not allocated to improve the service. Hence, it was in a hopelessly deteriorated state when the present administration came to office,” he stressed.
“Now we have gradually and steadily brought the Railway Service to a satisfactory level and the commuters can see it for themselves. We have put 100 coaches imported from China into the long distance services a few months back at a cost of Rs. 4 billion.
“We must thank the President for the support extended to import power sets by allocating a huge amount of money.
This would vastly enhance the state transport sector to operate more effectively and efficiently.
“We will deploy these 15 power sets to the railway fleet to ply on the Colombo and suburban lines. In addition, 20 more power sets will be imported next year under the Indian Loan system. They will be deployed on the long distance services.”
He expressed his gratitude to the makers of power sets, the CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd, Quindao, China for agreeing to provide the 15 power sets to the same price they charged when they exported the 15 power sets to Sri Lanka in 1999.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his recent visit to China signed an agreement with the Chinese Government to purchase the 15 power sets at a lower price. Though the private sector usually handles such consignments, these power sets were transported through Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd giving pride of place to state sector ventures.
The Hubei Machinery and Equipment Import Export Company which is a state organisation in China is the manufacturers of these 15 power sets using the latest technologies.
The Minister requested commuters to use these power sets by treating them as their own property. It is essential that the commuters lend their support to develop the state passenger transport sector.
Railway Department General Manager Dr.Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said these power sets provide a standard and safety service to commuters. With the replacement of the new power sets on the main line, coastal and Chilaw lines, trains previously deployed on these lines will operate to augment the Kelani Valley service.
new power sets will be put on the tracks of the main, Chillaw and coast lines after a few test runs. he said.
“Power sets are mainly for the suburban services to ease the morning and afternoon rush. We expect to take train engines from the short distance services and put them on long distance services,” he said.
By Irangika Range
Source: DailyNews, Dailymirror
