News
SLR and SLTB promise a smooth run for the season with additional trains and buses
Special arrangements have been made to facilitate the influx of passengers on public transport during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.
Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has deployed 10 new trains from Fort station to Galle, Anuradhapura, and Badulla, with first, second, and third class seating facilities.
In addition, several special train services will also be in operation. Special Train 1, the New Year Night Special, will run from the Fort station to Badulla at 7.30 p.m. on April 11, 12, 19 and 20; Special Train 2, from Badulla to Fort at 5.50 p.m. on the same dates. Special Train 3, will run from Galle to Anuradhapura at 4 p.m. on April 12 and 13, while Special Train 4 will run from Anuradhapura to Galle at 3 p.m. on those same dates.
For the weekend, Special Train 5 will operate from Fort to Galle at 7.20 p.m. on April 10, 11, 15 and 20, and Special Train 6 will travel from Galle to Fort at 6.10 a.m. on April 11, 12, 16, and 21. Special Train 7, a holiday special, will operate from Fort to Galle at 1.30 p.m. on April 12 and 13.
Additionally, Special Train number 4021, the Intercity Express, will run from Fort to Kankasanthurai at 5.30 p.m. on April 11 and 18, while Special Train number 4022 will travel in the reverse direction, from Kankasanthurai to Fort, at 1.50 p.m. on the same dates. Lastly, Special Train number 8097, the Sagarika Holiday Special, will run from Beliatta to Fort at 8.25 a.m. on April 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20.
People throng the main central bus stand in Pettah on Thursday. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
An additional contingent of 350 buses was deployed to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) on Thursday to accommodate increased passenger demand. The supplementary bus service is being implemented in two phases. Phase one, which ends tomorrow morning (14th), addresses the surge in passengers leaving Colombo to their hometowns. SLTB Deputy General Manager Operations T. Chandrasiri said, “Hatton will have a lot of extra buses, and we are also facilitating additional buses to Badulla, Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Kandy for the most part.”
Phase two will begin on Thursday, April 17, as passengers start returning to Colombo after the New Year celebrations and the auspicious time for resuming work. This phase will end on April 21. “The supplementary bus service has been extended longer than usual due to the longer holiday period, which includes the Poya and Easter holidays too,” Mr Chandrasiri said. He also noted that the extra buses will be reduced temporarily between the 14th and 17th, during the peak of the holiday celebrations.
In preparation for phase two, 107 bus depots across the island have been instructed to deploy buses to Colombo.
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