25 new carriages for railways

Irangika Range

Twenty five new railway carriages manufactured in China arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday under a plan to deploy 100 new railway coaches.

A Transport Ministry spokesman told the Daily News that 50 carriages purchased at a cost of Rs.30 million each, have already arrived from China and the last 25 carriages will reach Sri Lanka by January 10. He said the Treasury has allocated Rs.3,000 million to purchase carriages as an urgent measure. Under the first stage of the programme, 10 new carriages have been introduced to the Ruhunu Kumari.

He said that new compartments will be attached to the long distance trains Rajarata Rajina, Yal Devi, Kandy-Colombo, Galu Kumari, Muthu Kumari and the Mahawa-Colombo office train.

The new system adopting the latest technology utilises the air brake system which is more comfortable instead of vacuum brakes. The stainless steel compartments provide better protection to commuters. It has also facilitated urgent communications between the guard room and passenger rooms.

"At least 50 railway carriages should be added to the service annually if we are to provide a satisfactory train service to the public. However, not one carriage has been added to the service since 1992.

"That is why Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma submitted a Cabinet proposal to purchase new carriages as one of his first tasks," he said.