Railway acquires 20 power sets:

Power sets to steam long distance travel

Irangika RANGE

The first out of 20 power sets imported from India is due to arrive in Sri Lanka this month. This will strengthen long distance travel on the Southern railway line from Colombo to Matara.

A Sri Lanka Railways Spokesman told the Daily News that this was the first time that the CGR purchased power sets for long distance run. Four power sets are scheduled to arrive in the country between September and December this year.

He said the power sets have been specially designed for long distance travel with all facilities. The cost of a single power set is US$ 3.5 million.

He said that power sets were earlier used only for short distance journeys. Following several successful trial runs, it has been decided to use power sets for long distance travel.

"We decided to use them for long distance travel from Matara to Colombo initially," he said. They will also be used, once the railway line was extended upto Kataragama as well," he said. He said power sets would provide a standard and safety service to commuters while easing the morning and afternoon rush. Under the 10-year Railway Development Strategy highlighted in the Mahinda Chintana, the railway service will come to a satisfactory level after three decades of neglect and step-motherly treatment," he explained.