Committee to probe coastal line derailment

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Railways Department has appointed a special committee to probe Tuesday's derailment on the coastal line which crippled train operations to the South.

Railway Manager Operations P. Chandratilleke told the Daily News that the Committee comprising four members will investigate the cause of the derailment which occurred on the Wellawatte bridge around 5.30 pm on Tuesday.

The derailment had caused damage to the bridge and three compartments of the office train travelling from Moratuwa to Mahawa.

According to the Railway Main Control Room, all morning and afternoon trains on the coastal line were delayed yesterday owing to the damage caused by the incident.

"Only one line is open for operations after the derailment. As a result there was a delay of around 20 minutes. However, we hope that the situation will improve by the evening," a spokesman for the Control Room said.

The Department said that the immediate cause of the derailment has not been discovered. The loss caused to the Railways by the incident is yet to be determined.