Cargo transport by train:

Trains to minimise traffic congestion

Irangika Range

Transporting goods by train will be an ideal solution to minimize traffic congestion, Transport Minister Dullas Alhapperuma said.

Since trains are not properly used for transporting goods and at least 30 percent of traffic congestion is caused due to container trucks plying on roads, the Minister said..

The Minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of a new factory for maintaining railway carriages transporting goods and passengers in Maradana.

"Though two railway lines had been constructed connecting the Colombo Harbour and Katunayake Airport, those lines are not in use to transport goods for many years. Therefore, action will be taken to streamline goods transportation through trains," he said.

The Railways' contribution to transport goods is currently very low since no attempt has been made by any of previous regimes to develop this aspect. There had been no proper workshop to rehabilitate the coaches.

This new factory would fulfill the timely need of the Railway Department, he said.

This move will turn a new chapter in the railway history as goods transportation by train has been neglected for many decades. Around 450 good carriages of 1,150 in the fleet are defunct. These carriages will be renovated shortly in this factory."

He said the Government has taken a policy decision to strengthen transportation of goods by trains to make the Railway Department the most profitable organization reducing the burdens to the Treasury.

Cabinet approval has already been granted to set up two internal container yards in Sapugaskanda and Ratmalana and with the implementation of these two projects, the goods transportation sector will be developed.

The Railways has been revived with the reintroduction of the Uthuru Mithuru Yaldevi project. "It has become a dream come true for the Nation now.

People in the South are waiting to travel by the Yaldevi train to see their friends in the North while people in the North hope to travel to the South to see their brothers and sisters," he said.