Move to modernize railway signals
Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma in a move to modernize the railway Colour Signal System (CSS) has appointed a three member committee to conduct a survey on the existing system and suggest recommendations to bring it to the international level, Deputy General Manager (Technical) P.P.Wijesekara said.
The faults and failures in the CSS in the recent past have been the main causes for train delays and accidents. It has become a routine that engine drivers and railway control room accuse each other when an accident occurs. The best example for charges and counter charges is the recent fatal accident near the Veyangoda railway station. After the fatal accident ,the engine driver, head guard and their assistants claimed that the colour lights were not on when the Kandy bound train hit the rear of a power set that had been halted near the station. But the railway control room was adamant in saying that the red lights on the track were on, he said.
“However, all accept the fact that there must be a complete overhaul of the system,” Mr. Wijesekara stressed.
The three members of the committee will be recommended to Minister Alahapperuma by the Vice Chancellors of three universities who will be requested by the Transport Ministry to nominate them.
The engine drivers and guards launched a one day token strike on October 6 demanding the overhaul of the railway Colour Signal System.
Source: Dailymirror
