Railways moots new attractions for New Year

Sri Lanka Railways will take several passenger friendly measures to improve the train services with the dawn of the New Year. Sri Lanka Railways has drawn up a plan to introduce 20 Indian power sets of S-H model from Rites Company in India and 13 Chinese power sets of S-12 model from Sifang Company in China.

These Indian power sets have first, second and third class seating arrangements with other basic facilities such as buffet, sanitary facilities and seats, a media release said yesterday.

These Chinese power sets will be deployed in Up-country and Kelani Valley lines while two luxury ones will be used as special trains meant for tourists.

Meanwhile, the Railway employees are engaged in the track laying of 13 kilometres from Vavuniya to Omanthai. The first stage of this track-laying upto Thandikulam has already been completed and train services have commenced upto this point.

The Railway Department is also carrying out the rehabilitation of 150 km stretch of road from Omanthai to Kankasanthurai and 106 km stretch of road from Medawachchiya to Thalaimannar with local and foreign aid, within 30 months.

Efforts are also under way to complete the modernisation of coastal line from Matara to Colombo to enable trains to ply at 100 km speed per hour.