July 24th, 2012
‘Fifteen of the 20 power sets ordered from India have already arrived and the rest will arrive in the country within the next three months,” an SLR spokesman told the Daily News.
“Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has ordered 20 power sets from India under the US $ 67.4 million credit line agreement. The SLR has already imported fifteen power sets and fourteen are already in operation,” he said.
“We have replaced two new power sets for the Ruhunu Kumari while two new power sets have been deployed between Colombo Fort and Rambukkana. Another new power set is in operation between Aluthgama and Meerigama via Colombo Fort,” he said.
“Three power sets are in operation between Colombo Fort- Vavuniya, Colombo Fort – Puttalama and Colombo Fort – Chilaw,”.
“The rest of the power sets are currently being utilized for several office trains, including Intercity express trains on the coastal railway line, main railway line and the Puttalama railway line,” the spokesman said.
He said most of the power sets out of 20 handed over to the SLR are being used on the coastal railway line.
“All power sets imported from India are undergoing test runs at the railway workshop in Ratmalana. Following the results of trial runs, we have decided on which railway line they can be deployed,”
“Power sets have been specially designed for long distance travel with all facilities. The cost of a single power set is US $ 3.5 million.
These power sets which can operate at a maximum speed of 100kmph were manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in India. They consist of six compartments. Ninety passengers can be accommodated in the third class and 72 passengers in the second class,” he said.
He furthers said power sets provide a standard and safety service to commuters while easing the morning and afternoon rush.
Source: Dailynews
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June 10th, 2012
Sri Lanka Railways has planned to construct a second railway line between Polgahawela and Maho junctions, two main junctions on the railway network .
The development of the dual track line is aimed at easing the traffic on the Northern Line which is being extended up to Kankasanthurai in the Jaffna district.
The Northern Line deviates from the main upcountry line at Polgahawela Junction and at Maho Junction railway line to Batticaloa branches off from the Northern Line.
Between these two junctions, there are only five railway stations for 70 kilometers and this causes delays at interchanging.
The feasibility study for the double line between Polgahawela and Maho is to start soon.
At present, trains are operating up to Omanthai on Northern Line and the government has started the reconstruction of the line destroyed by the terrorists during the war up to Kankasanthurai.
Source: colombopage
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April 25th, 2012
After a lapse of nearly two years, Southern Railway Lines will have trains operating on the normal schedule from today. Sections of the railway line were closed for services for modernization of the track under three stages to make it suitable for express trains.
The modernization was carried out by the Indian railways company IRCON under the loan facility provided by the Indian government. Upon completion of the modernization work, the Southern coastal railway line was officially reopened on April 19th jointly by the Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and Ms. Sushma Swaraj, the leader of the Indian Parliamentary delegation that visited Sri Lanka. A Transport Ministry Spokesman said that arrangements have been made for smoother running of all express and normal trains, on scheduled time tables, from today.
He said that train services between Matara and Maradana were delayed and did not operate properly for the last couple of days due to various problems related to safety gates and unprotected railway crossings.
The Railway Authorities have already taken measures to install safety gates at all unprotected railway crossings on the coastal railway line. He said that priority will be given to install gates along the Southern coastal line.
The Ruhunu Kumari train which took more than 4 hours earlier to travel from Maradana to Matara is expected now to take only 2 hours and 35 minutes to complete its journey.
Source: news.lk
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April 23rd, 2012
The Department of Railways has imported 15 Oil Tank carriages from Pakistan to expand transportation of fuel through the railways. These oil tank carriages have been imported under the Pakistani Aid Programme. Each tank has the capacity of storing eleven thousand gallons.
The General Manager of Railways B A P Ariyarathna said that transport of fuel to Galle and Matara by railway will commence today. He said that in addition to the Southern Province, the railway will also transport fuel to Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Puttalam. He also said the Department expects to increase its revenue by using the railways for transport of fuel and cargo. And thereby help reduce congestion in the roads and minimize the transportation costs.
Meanwhile, the Railways Department has also imported 3 new engines from India, under the railway lines modernization programme. These engines will help to enhance train services in the recently modernized Southern coastal line which was declared open jointly by the Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and the Indian Parliamentary Delegation last Thursday.
Source: news.lk
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April 20th, 2012
Sri Lanka’s modernised coastal railway line from Kalutara South to Aluthgama was opened to the public yesterday with the participation of the visiting Indian delegation.
Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha also attended the opening ceremony.
The newly renovated Southern coastal line from Colombo to Matara. is the country’s first high speed railway line and would facilitate trains to run at speed of 100 kn per hour.
The Indian government provided US$ 168m for the project while Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) was involved in the renovation process.
The Railway General Manager B.A.P. Ariyaratne said that the renovation will shorten the current travelling time of 3 hours and 40 minutes for the train ride from Colombo to Matara to 2 hours with the high speed train.
He also said that arrangements have been made to operate all normal and express trains on scheduled time tables between Maradana and Matara after opening of the railway line.
Source: news.lk
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March 29th, 2012
The Cabinet approved a proposal made by Mr.Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, for the construction of a new rail road from Embilipitiya to Batticaloa via Moneragala and Ampara.
The Cabinet accordingly, decided to entrust the CECB to have a pre-feasibility study on this project.
On an earlier decision a feasibility study is being conducted by the University of Moratuwa to extend the Kelani Valley Railway line from Avissawella to Hambantota via Ratnapura, Embilipitiya and Mattala.
Source: news.lk
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March 5th, 2012
China is to fund the 114.5 Km Matara-Kataragama Ralway line extension project. A high level team from the Ministry of Transport has visited the Chinese capital Beijing to discuss funding arrangements for this project via China’s Exim Bank.
Sources from the Ministry of Transport said that the discussion by the team led by Secretary Dhammika Perera will centre on concluding the financing for the extension between Matara and Beliatta track spanning 27 kilometres estimated to cost 270 million U.S.Dolalrs. They said that funding for the follow up extensions up to Kataragama will also be discussed.
The Government has proposed to expand the railway services up to Kataragama in three stages.
Stage one will cover Matara to Beliatte (27 km), stage two Beliatte to Hambanthota (48 km) and Stage 3 Hambanthota to Kataragama (39.5 km).
This project will greatly facilitate cargo transport to and from the Hambantota Harbour and the Mattala Internatonal Airport.
source: news.lk
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February 1st, 2012
Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) will launch an additional train service for commuters traveling to Anuradhapura for the Deyata Kirula national exhibition from February 4 to 10.
Several special trains will operate between Colombo Fort and Anuradhapura during this period. SLR General Manager B A P Ariyaratne told a press-briefing at the Railway Headquarters, Maradana yesterday that a special train will ply run from Colombo Fort to Anuradhapura at 7.30 am.
He said that another train will operate from Anuradhapura to Colombo Fort at 12.22 pm. Another special train will also pl;y from Anuradhapura at 12.30 am on February 5.
Meanwhile, more compartments will be added to the Rajarata Regina operating to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya. Another train will leave Anuradhapura to Colombo at 3.20 pm.
Another special train will ply between Anuradhapura and Omanthai from February 4 to 10. There will be combined bus-train services from Anuradhapura railway station to the exhibition site daily. Digital timetables informing the arrival and departure of trains, have been installed at the Anuradhapura Railway Station. An exhibition showcasing railway activities and projects will also be held at the Deyata Kirula exhibition. The exhibition stall has been designed to inform the public about the past and present developments of the railway.
Sub stations have also been set up in Ashokapura and Samagipura in between Anuradhapura and Mihinthalaya. Facilities at the Anuradhapura railway station have been upgraded with new restrooms and attached bathrooms for the benefit of railway commuters. Meanwhile, a model of the Maradana railway station will be exhibited while a special train has been designed to operate across the exhibition site.
Source: Dailynews
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