Normal Train Services to South from today
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 14:18
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After a lapse of nearly two years, Southern Railway Lines will have trains operating on the normal schedule from today. Sections of the railway line were closed for services for modernization of the track under three stages to make it suitable for express trains.
The modernization was carried out by the Indian railways company IRCON under the loan facility provided by the Indian government. Upon completion of the modernization work, the Southern coastal railway line was officially reopened on April 19th jointly by the Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and Ms. Sushma Swaraj, the leader of the Indian Parliamentary delegation that visited Sri Lanka. 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 days 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.
The Ruhunu Kumari train which took more than 4 hours earlier to travel from Maradana to Matara is expected now to take only 2 hours and 35 minutes to complete its journey. (niz).
