Govt to import 11 more Indian power sets

The government plans to import 11 more new power sets from India, to strengthen the fleet of trains of the Railway Department, Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake, told Parliament yesterday.

He further said that the government had ordered 20 new power sets from India.

Nine power sets out of the 20 have already been imported to the country and they are now in operation. The rest of the 11 power sets will arrive in the country next year. The Deputy Minister was responding to an oral question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Each power set consists of six compartments, including the engine valued at US$3.56 million. These power sets have been imported under a loan agreement.

Questioned as to whether the power sets imported to this country had been defective, the minister said that the defects in the outer finish of these power sets had been observed and action was taken by Rites Company to rectify them, while certain defects are being rectified further related to the contract agreement. However, these power sets with a comfortable finish to the passengers and no public complaints have been received.

He further said that utilising these power sets, several office trains including an Intercity express are being operated currently.