Southern railway trains operate on normal schedule from today

Irangika RANGE

Trains will operate to the normal schedule on the reconstructed Southern coastal railway line from today after a lapse of nearly one year and seven months.

The Southern coastal railway line was officially reopened on April 19 after renovation, but, trains did not operate on scheduled time tables between Maradana and Matara due to various reasons.

A Transport Ministry Spokesman said that arrangements have been made for smoother running of all express and normal trains on scheduled time tables from today.

He said that train services between Matara and Maradana were delayed and did not operate properly for the last couple of weeks due to various problems related to safety gates and unprotected railway crossings.

The Railway Authorities have already taken measures to install safety gates at all unprotected railway crossings on the coastal railway line. He said that priority will be given to install gates along the Southern coastal line.