Under Negenahira Navodaya:

New rail bus service between Gal Oya, Trinco

Irangika RANGE

Sri Lanka Railways will launch a new rail bus service between Gal Oya junction and Trincomalee under the Negenahira Navodaya project from May 26.

The inauguration will take place at the Gal Oya railway station under the patronage of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Deputy Transport Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake, a Sri Lanka Railways Spokesman told the Daily News. He said that the first rail bus launched under the Negenahira Navodaya between Batticaloa and Gal Oya is being operated successfully. Thereafter, the Railways Department took measures to commence nine more rail bus services on the Eastern railway fleet following commuter requests.

Two rail buses between Puttalam and Chilaw, two rail buses between Mahawa and Polgahawela, one rail bus between Medawachchiya and Thalawa, three rail buses from Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa and one rail bus between Kanthale and Trincomalee are currently in operation. He said that the rail bus service provides quick and affordable transport facilities to commuters.

It has also considerably reduced travel time.

The Indian government has provided 12 buses to Sri Lanka Railways and has made available an additional allocation to pay for the cost of conversion of these buses into rail bus units.

The buses had been converted into rail buses suitable for local conditions at the Ratmalana Railway workshop.

Each rail bus will have two buses. A rail bus comprising 80 seats costs about Rs 6 million and is easier to maintain, the spokesman added.