15 power sets here from September
Irangika RANGE
Sri Lanka will soon receive 15 power sets (S-10 category) which have
already been shipped from China.
They will strengthen the rail service. The first power set is due to
arrive in Sri Lanka during the first week of September. These 15 power
sets will cost US$ 40 million and this is the first time in eight years
that we are getting down so many power sets, a Transport Ministry
spokesman said.
He said that the total power set fleet will be increased to 50 with
the addition of these 15 power sets. The Chinese Government was keen to
supply these power sets to Sri Lanka and they will be imported to Sri
Lanka with Chinese funds.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to China inked an
agreement to obtain these 15 power sets under the lowest prices that
prevailed in the market.
Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma stressed that this was a
pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana which has become a reality now. The
Government has also allocated a Rs.1,700 million to carry out this
project.
The Hubei Machinery and Equipment Import Export Company, a state
enterprise, has manufactured these 15 power sets following the latest
technologies suitable for modern day today requirements of the railway
service.
Around 400 commuters can be transported by one power set which has
been finished using stainless steel outside and inside to provide best
service for commuters.One power set comprises six coaches. "We will
deploy these 15 power sets to the railway fleet of Colombo to Aluthgama,
Rambukkana, Chilaw and Kelani Valley from the first week of November. We
have given priority to deploy more power sets for the office workers
targeting to streamline the country's state transport service," he said. |