Flame in Yarl Devi compartments extinguished
The fire which broke out in two compartments, including the restaurant car of the Yarl Devi travelling from Colombo to Thandikulam has been brought under control and did not cause any casualties to the passengers.
The blaze had occurred this morning (July 05) due to an explosion of an LP gas cylinder in the restaurant car, said Wijaya Samarasinghe, Commercial Superintendent of Railways . The incident has occurred at Puliyankulama Junction between Anuradhapura and Saliyapura at 10.30 am.
Source: Ada Derana

























July 6th, 2009 at 12:22 am
SAD DAY FOR SL railway fans & passengers
SL has 3 x choises with SRankan railways.
1. Close it & Convert it to a railway museum
2. Sack all the idots of mangers , political appointees & unproductive personal.
Make it to a success story !!!
3. Privatise it & save millons of tax money to develop the country.
I will recommend no 2 & 3.
Its bad enough SL rail make billones of loses annually.
Recently a newish LOCO was completly burned . Now 2 new carriges costing milliones of Dollars lost in flames.
All bcuse of no fire extinguishers available on hand + faulty safty regulations.
Like the military campaign against the deadly terras in SL, railways need 2 be managed with Military precision.
Rail managment ???? needs to capture the Clts with smart Price & service policies.
Example:
1. Prices for Non Residents + forigners shall be charged on Euro / Dollar currancy bases.
For residents pricing shall be in Rs scale.
2. Introduce a BLUE price schedule:
Peak traffic time & days heigher prices.Reduced fairs in the contrary situation.
All the FREE + discount TRAVELERS shall be limited 2 trains with low occupation time
3. Get specialised in inter island Rail & express cargo service incl. refrigrated cargo, transporting vehicles etc
4. Convert railway stations to MONEY generating spots. Renting premises,
Station roof space 4 solar power generation, large screens for posting adds , presentation spot for ;example new vehicles
5. Info . office of the city & HTL + car + taxi reservations
6. Creating VIP lounges + CLEAN PAY TOILETS & other services
7. Placing TV screen within the carriges for entertainment + posting adds etc
SL Rail need 2 cut cost + save money + be + efficent.
1. Fuel efficent engines ( proper maintanance with LOCAL QUALITY SPARES + right type of engine oil etc)
2. use locally made BIO FUEL will enhance local economy + save millions
of HARD CURRENCY + will save the NATURE & the passenders from lung cancer
3. Good maintance of the ROLLING STOCK & TRACKS using local Tecnology.
4. Berths , tracks & others shall be produced locally.
5. Shall refurbish carriges & Locos in SL + assembling the new units too in Sl.
then gradually manufacture our own units insted of making others rich.
Intercity & commuter traffic shall be focused on SL rail to avoid over crowding of ROADS.
MAIN BUS & Rail stations shall be in the same location. Also the right timing.
Example: If KANDY train leaves CMB @ 12.00 hrs, @ 11.00 hrs there shall be no intercity buses available to Kandy until the train has left.
Passengers must be encouraged 2 use + SL Rail is good 4 the country & 4 the passengers.
SL rail also must offer dual tickets for buses as well as 4 trains.
May GOD save our beloved SL RAILWAYS.
I m a big fan of SL Railways !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1