The Railway Department has announced that special train services will be operated over the next two days to facilitate the return of passengers who travelled to their hometowns during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.

The Department confirmed that the trains will run on April 18 and 19, ensuring smoother travel and reducing congestion on regular services.

According to officials, these services will operate from Anuradhapura, Kankasanthurai, Matara, and Beliatta, catering to the large number of commuters heading back to their workplaces and residences after the festive holidays.

The detailed timetable for these special trains is as follows:

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Sri Lanka Railways has announced that 16 main line services will operate this evening (10).

The trains will operate from Colombo Fort to Rambukkana, Mahawa, Kurunegala, Ganewatte, and Polgahawela.

The Railway department further said that steps are being taken to run 15 trains tomorrow morning (11). (Newswire)

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The Bribery Commission has arrested former General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways, Sumathipala Mahanama Abeywickrama, on corruption charges.

Abeywickrama was arrested in connection with a disciplinary order issued by then General Manager B.A.P. Ariyaratne, which called for the immediate dismissal of train driver I.L.K. Dissanayake following a formal inquiry. 

According to the Bribery Commission, the order was later altered, and the driver was not dismissed, allegedly granting him an undue benefit.

The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake says officials who are unable to ensure the proper functioning of railway services can leave their positions.

Minister Rathnayake pointed out that officials of the Railway Department have failed to maintain the railway system adequately.

He made these remarks while attending a discussion held at the Kalutara District Secretariat, alongside Members of Parliament representing the Kalutara District and other state officials connected to the transport sector.

“You can’t even close the windows on your trains. They say they’ll fix it, but once the windows are shut, the seats get soaked. Not a single fan works. On a two-and-a-half-hour journey from Galle to Colombo, there’s no water in the only washroom. These are office trains—can’t you transport people in an orderly way? It’s as if the officials have no concern for the public. A small child from Ja-Ela lost two fingers when he fell against a window on his very first train ride. After that, we as parents must take responsibility too. I spoke to the father. He asked me, ‘Sir, why should we live in this country?” he said.

Minister Rathnayake further instructed the relevant officials to carry out some kind of repairs, such as washrooms, windows, and fans, within a month.

“To everyone in the Railway Department, if you can’t provide the service, then leave. This is the final warning,” he said. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Railways is preparing to introduce a new accommodation option near Nanuoya Railway Station with the launch of the ‘Odyssey Camper’, a stationary lodging facility built from decommissioned rail equipment.

The camper is constructed using a retired W1-class locomotive, two vintage Indian-built railcars, and a locally manufactured steel carriage. Permanently stationed near the Nanuoya station, the Odyssey Camper will offer overnight stays in a rail-themed setting.

Facilities include a room with a large bed, an attached bathroom, and heating. The accommodation will operate on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with breakfast served at the nearby Nanuoya Railway Bungalow.

The facility is yet to open, with an official announcement on the launch date expected soon. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Railways says train services on the main railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura will be suspended once again for a period of one month due to renovation work on five bridges on the said railway line.

A representative of the Railway Department said that the bridges, which are about 100 years old, need to be removed, and new bridges are to be installed, adding that five of those bridges have already been brought to the country.

He further said that the five bridges are being built with Indian loan assistance and will cost about US$15 million.

The Railway Department representative said that construction is planned to begin most likely after the Poson Poya Festival.

He also revealed that although the reconstruction of this railway line was completed at a cost of US $ 9127 million under the Indian loan scheme and the line was opened to train traffic in September last year, the construction of the signaling system has been delayed and due to the lack of signals, trains are currently operating on a token system on that section.

As such, a memorandum of understanding in this regard is scheduled to be signed with India.

He stated that if work on the signalling system begins within the next month, it will be possible to complete the work by mid-next year. (Newswire)

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Nearly 30 train journeys have been disrupted due to a shortage of locomotive engine drivers reported this morning, Sri Lanka Railways said. 

The Railway Department said despite 68 locomotive engine drivers being required to be on duty, per the current schedule, only 48 had reported to work today. 

The department further said that 27 locomotive engine drivers had refrained from reporting to duty, according to trade union sources. 

It is reported that locomotive engine drivers had not reported to duty due to preparing for a promotional examination scheduled for Sunday. 

As such, the Railway Department warns that train services could face delays or cancellations until Sunday, under the current circumstances. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Railways has decided to operate special train services in January and February this year. 

According to the department, the special train service is being implemented for the Thai Pongal festival, Independence Day, and subsequent long weekends. 

The special train services will be launched from Colombo-Fort to Badulla and from Colombo-Fort to Kankesanthurai. 

Further details of the special train services are as follows;

• Colombo-Fort to Badulla

Leaves Colombo Fort  at 07.30 pm

Dates : 

January 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 24, 26, and 31

February 02 and 04

• Badulla to Colombo

Leaves Badulla at 05.40 pm

Dates : 

January 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 24, 26, and 31

February 02 and 04

• Colombo-Fort to Kankesanthurai

Leaves Colombo Fort at 05.30 am

Leaves Kankesanthurai at 01.50 pm

Dates : 

January 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 31

February 03 and 04 (Newswire)

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At least eleven (11) scheduled office trains were cancelled this morning, Sri Lanka Railways announced.

The Railway Department said the cancellation was due to train drivers and railway guards not reporting to duty.

The department further said trains plying from Colombo-Fort to Moratuwa, Panadura, Wadduwa, Negombo, Ambepussa, Padukka, and Ragama, and back have been thus cancelled. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Railway Department will initiate the online reservation of all train seats commencing this evening (Mar 14).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), this comprehensive arrangement extends to both standard seat bookings and warrant reservations.

Reservations could be made via https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/ or phone bookings via Mobitel, Hutch, Airtel & Dialog on 444 & Telecom networks on 1265.

Online reservations can also be made through the Sri Lanka Railways Reservation mobile application. (NewsWire)

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The eighty-four (84) railway engine drivers who are engaged in a strike action have been requested to report for duty immediately, Sri Lanka’s Railway Department stated.

According to the department, those who fail to report for duty will be considered as having vacated their posts.

The Railway Department added that relevant letters to such employees will be issued in due course. 

The public have been severely inconvenienced as a result of the strike action carried out by the Sri Lanka Locomotive Operating Engineers Union.

Several train services were cancelled yesterday and today due to the strike action. A 20-year-old youth died and another passenger sustained injuries, both after falling off overcrowded trains yesterday. 

Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardena said today that the Railway Department has decided to pay a sum of Rs. 500,000 to the family of the youth who had died after falling off the roof of a train at the Horape Station. 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army was deployed to provide security at 32 Railway Stations across the country today in view of the railway strike action.

The Sri Lanka Locomotive Operating Engineers Union is engaged in the strike action despite President Ranil Wickremesinghe having issued a Gazette notification yesterday declaring railway services an essential service. (NewsWire)

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