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No easy path for railways to overcome challenges
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Long standing issues of Sri Lanka Railways are emerging with allegations and counter allegations by officials and trade unionists.
The archaic infrastructure, colonial practices, lack of staff, poor maintenance of equipment and fraud in electronic ticketing systems are among the problems, along with continuing train delays and cancellations.
Several senior railway officials said that certain officials are reluctant to take responsibility for administrative activities, while those in operations have to grapple with old tracks, signal systems and rolling stock.
Dematagoda railway yard
Some of the issues included trains purchased under the Indian credit line, procurement purchase of spare parts and maintenance of train engines, the Sunday Times learns.
According to senior officials who claimed anonymity, locomotives break down often as substandard spare parts are used. Sometimes they are forced to improvise parts or use substandard replacements, they said.
The officials also alleged that it takes at least two years for purchases to reach the railway works departments.
Railway yards islandwide are also getting congested due to unused compartments, decommissioned engines, and discarded tracks.
The main railway yards in Colombo as well as Mardana, Maligawatta and Ratmalana are severely cluttered with train compartments and unused engines.
Railway security officials and engineers had repeatedly requested to remove the discarded compartments as scrap metal and clear the yards, yet no action had been taken, the Sunday Times learns.
Sri Lanka Railways plagued by many issues. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Sources also said thieves are targeting copper wires, fans, and electronic parts from trains in operation that are parked alongside abandoned, decommissioned trains
The management has also not acted on proposals to set up motion detection lights and security cameras, the sources said.
Serious issues that are plaguing SL Railways have come to light at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) hearings recently. Issues pertaining to lack of management committee meetings and delays in replying to audit quarries were raised. Train delays from 2022 to 2024 were noted and the committee said the losses from these delays should be estimated.
Reports had been made to reduce delays, but there had not been any action, COPA noted.
Recently, Railway General Manager Dammika Jayasundera was removed through a cabinet proposal made by the Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake.
According to sources, the removal was due to inefficiency, however there was also a debate among officials that it was political. Mr Jayasundera is said to be qualified and experienced in the engineering field, while another faction says the newly appointed GMR, a super grade administrative officer who was director at the finance ministry excels in administrative work.
However, railways trade unions say that many long standing issues and challenges remain and short, mid-term and long term solutions are needed. According to them, every subsection within the department should work in unison to resolve issues and improve services.
The Locomotive Operating Engineers Union said that both infrastructure as well as staffing issues should be resolved simultaneously.
Union head K.A.U Konthasinghe told the Sunday Times that the railways is functioning with archaic tracks, signalling and with an old rolling stock, and breakdowns have become frequent. He explained that the delays in trains as well as cancellations should be immediately rectified.
Mr Konthasinghe said the railway should improve infrastructure with immediate attention being given to improving safety on tracks and signalling.
“We need hands-on administrative officials who would proactively intervene before underlying issues create incidents, apart from that they should also look into human resource matters and create a work force without vacancies,’’ he said.
Former trade unionist and now Coordinating Secretary Transport, Highways, Ports, Civil Aviation Ministry (trade union), S.P Vithanage admitted there were issues and said that action is being taken.
Mr. Vithanage admitted that frequent breakdown of train engines were due to substandard parts, but original parts will be used.
“The railways will recruit about 1,400 as engine drivers, guards and technical officers, but as the engine drivers’ training period is around three years there might be delays in bringing them into service.’’
He said the railways will clear the Maligawatta train yard and auction the scrap metal.
The newly appointed General Manager of Railways, Ravindra Pathmapriya, told the Sunday Times that his top priority is to ensure smooth railway operations. He plans to focus first on reducing delays and cancellations and will work closely with railway officials and railway unions to find collective solutions
| Packed Madhu train leaves passengers behind The train to take devotees to Madhu Shrine for the National Annual Church Feast on August 15 left the Negombo Railway Station at 9.20 p.m. on the 14th for Madhu. It was to take passengers from Kurana, Katunayaka, Seeduwa, Ja-ela, Kandana, Ragama and other stations on its way to the Madhu Road, the entrance point to the Madhu Shrine. Before this special train set off, Rev. Fr. Shantha Hettiarachchi, Parish Priest of St Mary’s Church Grand Street, Negombo and Rev Fr. Laknath Coorey, Parish Priest of Kadol kele, blessed the train and devotees in the presence of Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne and Negombo Mayor Robert Heenkenda. It was the practice in the past to arrange one or two trains to Madhu at state cost but this time, for the first time, the authorities had said it would cost Rs 2.5 million to do so and as it became a controversial issue, the Catholic Church intervened and after discussions that went on for about a month, the Government finally decided to provide a train. A. train with nine carriages, two second class (Rs 1,800 return), six third class (Rs 880 return) was provided. The train filled up 15 minutes after arriving in Negombo and some elderly people and those with children were left on the platform unable to grapple with the crowd -K L Richard Walter Perera | |
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