Sri Lanka revokes suspension of Indian power sets
The Sri Lankan government has revoked the suspension imposed on the import of S-11 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) from India after the government’s concerns were addressed, Indian media reported.
Sri Lanka Minister of Transport Kumar Welgama suspended the import of 17 remaining DMUs out of an order for 20 units after defects were reported when the three units India delivered were launched on the rail tracks.
In a letter written to the RITES Ltd, a company run by the Indian government that is supplying the DMUs to Sri Lanka Railways, the Sri Lankan Transport Secretary had said that the import of the 17 DMUs was being suspended until ongoing investigations into the quality of the locomotives was ascertained.
According to a report in The Hindu, a locomotive on the Galle-Matara section stopped on its tracks on March 11, following an electrical short circuit and resumed its journey after 20 minutes. Apart from routine delays, there has been no other problem in the operation of the power sets in the Galle – Matara section, the report said.
The company has sent a team last week to investigate the problem and found that the locomotive had been tinkered and also more coaches had been added to the engine exceeding its hauling capacity leading to snapping of electrical supply in one part of the engine.
Following the assurances given by the RITES team of continued service support Sri Lanka has agreed to revoke the suspension.
The power sets are imported under an Indian credit line. The value of one DMU is US$ 3.5 million. India is to supply the 20 DMUs in a phased manner till March 2012.
source: colombopage.com
April 24th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Why do we always depend on India? India itself is a developing country… You cannot expect 100% quality out of anything.. Why we risk public funds just to get the work done when we have so many options open from China Taiwan and Japan.. They are well known for manufacturing Trains with excellent quality.. We Sri lankans are in an era of moving very fast to the future… So why don’t we do the least we can do to get there?
The appearance itself of the imported trains from India says about its state and durability. What we always do is depend on India over cheap stuff lowering our grade and help develop their nation instead competing… As a country we should compete with these countries without helping them indirectly and only when they need. India is a country that someday we can overrun in this competition of development..
Trains from Japan/Taiwan/China may cost you a bit more compared to Indian prices.
But think about the GRADE, DURABILITY,COMFORT,SUSTAINABILITY, TOURIST ATTRACTION, REVOLUTION,MODERNITY AND BEING FUTURISTIC. SPEED AND POWER. You might not be able to buy 20 trains at once from the above mentioned regions. buying maximum you can from them would be a better wonderful idea. buying one by one we don’t mind because we have waited 30 years patiently without anything. So waiting for a little while more until completion wouldn’t be that difficult as a SRI LANKAN. MAKE SRI LANKA PROUD. Be a part of it.
Be revolutionized. Now its the time to establish HIGH SPEED modern trains such as Electricity Trains, Subway trains(underground trains) or if affordable Magnetic trains. open your eyes and see the world and its revolution. Where are we??? Still trying on usual lower grade Diesel engines and power sets when others revolve. India gives us trains but they don’t use the same standard train in their country. They now import trains from china and etc. Think about these. this is not a complain. take this as a suggestion to make Sri lanka outstanding and developed. Thanx!
April 24th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Our current minister for Transportation is very helpful and very efficient.. He alone cannot stand to bring this department up. For that we need to co operate with him, give him good ideas. Feed backs, raise complains, and have discussions with him all time. show what is good from bad.
My next topic is the cleanliness of the railway stations. Start developing from the bottom end. I take it very unpleasant to go to mainly Fort railway station and other railway stations due to its state of cleanliness. You can stop this. This wouldn’t be a cost to your department but an additional income. How you do it is first place all the necessary disposal bins where it is suppose to be and appoint some agents to look for people who litter within the station premises.
Make arrangements to FINE (charge) them at least 1000/= rupees if they litter dropping a small toffee paper. and 2000/= for spitting. you will see in no time they will adjust and will not litter again. and railway stations will be a Eco-friendly pleasant place to be. No matter how big or small they are, FINE THEM. at least children will learn not to pollute by that way. Soon implement these rules.
And try to stop these annoying vendors who sells Wade, Sweets and Water and stuff in the train. Because it is not a market. It is a Train… AND STOP Beggars entering to the premises. Give passengers a peace of mind so that they can travel any longer. Advertise within and outside the railway station about fine or charges that railway department make in order to educate them that it is a ECO FRIENDLY place that HE OR SHE IS ENTERING. BE STRICT ON RULES.
For chewing gum, You may take these actions if needed. Make a holder that can hold a Big squared paper and place the holder on a pillar. Who ever wants to throw a chewing gum may past it on the paper which will be removed later on when it is over pasted by chewing gums. and you will place a new paper each time it is removed. Take these idias into consideration. We need to do the little we can do. like rain drops make floods to wash away. Thanx!
March 18th, 2012 at 11:46 am
Thy “stylish” Front Nose Cone is made out of poor quality Glasfiber-Polymer Resin Laminate and the windscreens made out of Plastic Polycarbonate. There is NO CRASCH ENERGY ABSORBING Front Element behind for the Driver`s passive Safety. There are international acknoledged Norms for Crash Proof and Train Glas , like EN15227, UIC651, bluntly violated by the Indian Manufacturer. One month before the fatal Alawwa Crasch, where this Polymer Front Cabin fully disintegrated on the rear end crash at relatively low speed of only 37 kmph – the loco driver managed to speed the train down from 71 to 37 kmph according the Event Recorder – the competant authorities had been warned about this CRASHUNWORTHY and CRASH RISKY Rail Vehicle and the risk to use Glasfibre-Polymer Resin Laminate and Polycarbonat Plastic for Rail Vehicle Front Parts without solid Crash Energy absorbing Steel Elements for the Deiver`s Passive Safety. Note, that SLR ia mared by numerous Lever Crossing Colissions. And now even the Authorities want to go for HIGH SPEED on the old vulnerable Coast Line Trace with sharp curvatures and many sections with hindered and poor visibility for the Drivers.
March 18th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Loco Drivers should be aware, that they are sitting in the S11 Front Cabin on a “DEATH CHAIR” on colission with a heavy object. And they should drive this D(E)MU accordingly carefully. A German Railway Expert had already warned in July 2011 a S11 Loco Driver in presence of witnesses at Matara Station, that he will killed “TWICE” in this Polymer/Plastic Cabin on colission with a heavy object: 1. by the impact and 2. by the debris of the disintegrating Glasfibre-Plastic acting like scrabnells and by the intruding crash objects. This happened few weeks later at Alawwa. The Expert suggsted to refurbish step by step all Indian build S11 with a solid Steel Front cabin well connected to the body frame of the M9 design. Perhaps this alteration can be executed by Colombo Dockyard.