The Railway Department says it is working to remove the obstruction caused by the derailment of the “Sagarika” train near the Wadduwa railway station today (24).
The department said in a statement that plans are in place to clear at least one track before office hours in the evening to allow office trains to run.
If the obstruction is not cleared in time, the Railway Department, together with the Ministry of Transport, the Sri Lanka Transport Board, and the National Transport Commission, has arranged to transport passengers by bus along the coastal route, it added.
The derailment occurred at around 7.10 am when train No. 8097 “Sagarika,” operating from Beliatta to Maradana, went off the tracks near the Wadduwa station, obstructing both up and down lines of the coastal railway.
Passengers of the “Sagarika,” as well as those on the ‘Ruhunu Kumari’ and ‘Galle Kumari’ trains bound for Colombo, were provided facilities through a connecting train near Wadduwa.
For ‘Rajarata Rajini’ passengers, buses were arranged from Kalutara South to Panadura, with onward train travel to Anuradhapura.
Evening train and bus services have been scheduled as follows;
After 6.25 pm, services on the coastal line are expected to resume normal operations.
The Railway Department added that a board of inquiry has been appointed to determine the cause of the derailment and identify those responsible. (Newswire/\ Image – Accident1st)
