By The Pulseline News Desk
Serious safety concerns have been raised over the resumption of train services on Sri Lanka’s Up-country railway line after an office train derailed on Monday (5), only three days after services resumed following nearly 10 months of closure.
The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has questioned whether adequate safety clearances were obtained before services were restored, alleging that railway operations resumed on the affected section without approval from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara Jayasekara has said the matter required urgent attention, particularly as warnings had also been issued regarding the risk of earthslips and rockfalls at two other locations along the line.
“We request the department to reinvestigate and look into the matters properly prior to starting train services, without endangering the lives of passengers,” Jayasekara has said.
His comments followed the derailment of the first office train operating from Peradeniya to Colombo Fort after the restoration of services.
The train had departed Peradeniya Railway Station at around 4.35 a.m. but derailed between Ihalakotte, Kadigamuwa and Gangoda after earth and rocks fell onto the railway track.
The engine and one carriage derailed when the driver was reportedly unable to clearly identify the obstruction on the track.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of reopening a section that had sustained extensive damage during Cyclone Ditwah.
Train services between Colombo Fort, Peradeniya and Gampola resumed on October 2 after the section had remained closed for almost 10 months due to the severe damage caused by the cyclone.
Following Monday’s derailment, passengers were forced to make their way through alternative routes to the Kadigamuwa bus route before continuing by bus to Rambukkana.
The Railway Department subsequently arranged an additional train from Rambukkana to Colombo to transport the affected passengers.
The SLRSMU has called for the condition of the railway line and vulnerable areas along the route to be thoroughly reassessed before normal services continue, warning that reopening the line without addressing identified risks could place passengers and railway employees in danger.
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