Audit exposes rail chaos as half of Sri Lanka’s trains delayed in 2024

The 2024 audit of the Sri Lanka Railways Department has highlighted serious concerns over train punctuality, safety, and operational efficiency.

According to the audit, nearly 49% of train journeys—58,693 out of 125,036 scheduled trips—were delayed last year, while 5,305 trains, or 4.2% of journeys, were cancelled.

Only 61,038 trains operated on time, raising alarms about the reliability of intercity, express, mixed, passenger, freight, and rail-bus services.

The Accounting Officer cited multiple factors behind the delays, including staff shortages, delays in repairing worn-out locomotives and ageing engine wagons, slow modernization at the Ratmalana factory, late rail deliveries, imposed speed limits, travel restrictions due to road works, and adverse weather conditions.

The audit recommended urgent measures to address delays and cancellations and ensure trains operate on schedule.

Safety issues at railway crossings were also flagged. Of 1,362 major and minor level crossings, 439 remain unsafe, including 200 manually operated gates. Over a five-year period (2020–2024), 385 accidents occurred at unsafe crossings, resulting in 37 deaths and 105 injuries, largely due to inadequate safety measures and poor implementation of existing protections.

The Railway Department maintains 1,177 crossings, including 300 with gates and 438 equipped with signals, while 185 crossings are privately managed.

Temporary measures such as warning signs, speed limits, and alerts have been implemented, but the audit called for immediate action to improve crossing safety.

Operational challenges extend to train incidents. Between 2020 and 2024, the railways recorded 660 derailments, 585 breakdowns, and 13 collisions, yet investigations for 572 accidents remain incomplete, with some pending for up to four years, in violation of Financial Regulation 104.

For the 88 accidents fully investigated, estimated losses reached Rs. 20.45 million. Delays were attributed to a shortage of investigation officers in the Transport Sub-Department.

The audit urged the Railways Department to comply with financial regulations, recover damages, and implement measures to prevent future accidents, underscoring the need for a stronger focus on railway safety, operational efficiency, and accountability.