Sri Lanka Railways Forum

The Government has waived the security levy on parcel transportation by rail from yesterday as the security situation of the country has returned to normal. Sri Lanka Railways’ Commercial Superintendent Vijaya Samarasinghe said that the officials attached to the main stations and sub stations across the country have already been informed by the Railway Department in this regard.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Railways has earned Rs 9,661,298 as fines from 17,195 ticketless travellers travelling long distance as well as suburban trains during the year 2009.

Railway authorities had deployed flying squads to nab ticketless travellers islandwide. During the same period last year, the railway authorities earned Rs 6,425,906 as fines collected from ticketless travellers within the Colombo area while fines amounting to Rs 2,031,005 were collected from ticketless travellers in Nawalapitiya. Meanwhile, Rs 1,204,385 was collected as fines from ticketless travellers in the Anuradhapura area last year.

Source: Dailynews

The railway semaphore signals between the Peradeniya Junction railway station and Kandy railway station have been upgraded to the new colour light signal system. The electrification scheme which was mooted in 2008 is now a reality.

The four railway gates are now operating under this scheme, and the old semaphore signal posts have been removed. The hand signals at the gates are also being replaced. The electric signals are now in operation.

Source: SLRF

Sri Lanka and India signed a deal to rebuild the railway lines between Omanthai and Pallai in the island’s war-torn North, at a cost of 185 million dollars.

Indian Ministry of Railways owned company IRCON International has been contracted to complete the 90 kilometre stretch over a two and half year period.

Work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2010, P Wijesekara, general manager of the railway department said.

The northern railway line is being built in five phases: Vavuniya to Omanthai, Omanthai to Pallai, Pallai to Kankesanturai, Medawachiya to Madu and Madu to Talaimannar.

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Train services to Kandy will be suspended on Sunday (January. 10, 2010) between 7.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. for repairs to the bridge between Kandy and Peradeniya, all train services from Colombo Fort to kandy and matale will terminate at Peradeniya Station, but the kandy to matale train services will operate usual, for more information contact Sri Lanka Railway.

Source: SLR

The Railway from Colombo up to Ambepussa was ceremonially opened on December 27, 1864 by the Duke of Brabant, heir to the Belgium throne (later King Leopold II) who happened to be holidaying in the island at the time. Many guest invitees, including Sir Henry Ward, participated in the historic journey.

The first train was hauled by a 59-ton steam locomotive originally deployed for transporting ballast to work sites. Leaving Colombo at 9 a.m. the train reached Ambepussa by 12 noon, covering a distance of 54 Km.

145 years later members of CREC did the same trip from the present Colombo Fort station to the current Ambepussa station. The diesel electric S10 DMU hauled the members to Ambepussa only 30 minutes ahead than the first steam engine! Of course the current passenger train has to make scheduled stops and also give right of way for express trains which were not existing 145 years ago!

Source: Ceylon Railway Enthusiasts Circle (CREC)/SLRF

Sri Lanka Railways will take several passenger friendly measures to improve the train services with the dawn of the New Year. Sri Lanka Railways has drawn up a plan to introduce 20 Indian power sets of class S11 model from Rites Company in India and 13 Chinese power sets of class S12 model from Sifang Company in China.

These Indian power sets have first, second and third class seating arrangements with other basic facilities such as buffet, sanitary facilities and seats, a media release said yesterday.

These Chinese power sets will be deployed in Up-country and Kelani Valley lines while two luxury ones will be used as special trains meant for tourists.

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On the 31st of December, 2009, not only the year 2009 ends, but so does the first decade of the 21st century. It has been a challenging year and a rather revolutionary decade. Never before we encountered so many innovations that have the ability to make the life better than in the 2000s.

Sri Lanka Railways Forum (SLRF) wishes all our readers, partners and friends all the best in 2010 and throughout the whole next decade. Be successful, be smart, be kind and buy tickets when traveling in the coming year. Let the Sri Lanka Railway(SLR) make 2010 a remarkable transportation provider for you!

Happy new year!