Railway commuters stranded during weekend
Railway commuters had to undergo numerous hardships due to a strike launched by the Railway Locomotive Engineers Union during the weekend. The union has decided not to report for work on public holidays as a protest against the suspension of some of its members including its President.
Department sources said that only 90 train routes out of a total number of 290 had been operational during the weekend.
A Kandy bound intercity express train crashed into the rear of a Polgahawela bound train as the latter was about to pull off from the Ganemulla station on September 28, killing one person and injuring 43 others. The engine driver, assistant driver, head guard and his assistant were suspended following the accident pending investigations.
The union called for a countrywide strike but it was later put on hold following an assurance from the Railway authorities to appoint a committee to reconsider punitive action.
Railway unions said that they could accept the findings of the inquiry. “The accident was caused by a dilapidated signal system set up by the Department in 1962. The signal system malfunctions. No workers should be penalized for an institutional failure. The department continues to find scapegoats for its faults without rectifying them,” a senior member of the trade union said.
Operating superintendent of Sri Lanka Railway, Vijaya Samarasinghe said what was at issue was disciplinary action and that could not be revoked at the whims and fancies of workers. The disciplinary actions had been taken according to the Department’s rules and regulations and the railway management did not take unfair decisions, he said.
Samarasinghe added: The railway management met last evening and discussed the problem. The department keeps the equipment of the Railway carriages and engines in good condition. We have to ensure passenger safety. We decided to take steps to minimize the difficulties the railway commuters will have to face if drivers continue their trade union action this week as well.”
By Dasun Edirisinghe
Source: The Island
Tags: carriages, commuters, disciplinary action, engineers union, express train, hardships, intercity express, investigations, locomotive engineers, locomotive engines, passenger safety, public holidays, punitive action, railway authorities, railway unions, scapegoats, signal system, system malfunctions, train routes
