Samudradevi train replaced with DMU amidst mixed reactions
Thousands of commuters taking the morning Samudradevi express train on the coast line to reach their work places in the city were up in arms over the train been suddenly replaced by a power set.
Asked to account for the move, Sri Lanka Railways’ Operations Manager Vijaya Samarasinghe said: “We received numerous complaints that some commuter – couples have made it a practice to use the train as a rendezvous for love making and have expressed disgust over certain lewd scenes they have been compelled to witness. Couples have found the coaches of the Samudradevi convenient for their indecent activity.
So we decided to replace it with a power set because the openness in such wagons would discourage such indecent behaviour.
The Organization for Protection of the Properties and the Rights of Railway Employees (OPPRRE) convener Sumathipala Manawadu lodging his union’s strong protest against the move charged the authorities had taken the decision without consulting passengers of the Samudradevi.
“Samudradevi express train had become part of the life of those employees who start their travel to Colombo early morning from remote parts of down south. They take their breakfast and sometimes attend to their personal needs on the train. In fact, a sub-culture has come into existence with commuters celebrating even birthday parties on the train. They have been deprived of comforts and conveniences they have been enjoying for decades.
Dismissing Manawadu’s argument Operations Manager Samarasingha said the replacement was made as there were numerous complaints from commuters themselves.
“It is a known fact that the toilets had been used for indecent activities by some passengers. Some use the train as their private property,” Ranasingha charged.
The express train was replaced with a power set on the request of passengers. Besides, the power set travels fast and reaches its destination 45 minutes sooner than the Samudradevi, he said.
By Sandun A Jayasekera
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: authorities, colombo, commuters, convenience, conveniences, couples, disgust, DMU, express train, indecent behaviour, operations manager, passengers, personal needs, private property, railway employees, rendezvous, samudradevi, toilets, train, wagons
