News
Battered upcountry railway track on its way to former scenic splendour
View(s):By Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
The Railway Department was able to restore a 68-kilometre stretch of track between Badulla and Ambewela within 23 days after Cyclone Ditwah caused damage to the upcountry railway track in 26 places.
The track was restored with the support of the Railway workforce, officers of the National Building Research Organisation, the tri-forces, and a volunteer nongovernmental organisation.
As a result of the track between the two stations being restored, the Class S14 power set was deployed yesterday. The power set was scheduled to have four trips up and down from Ambewela to Badulla.
As the upcountry railway line is a major tourist attraction, measures are being taken to restore other affected parts of the track as well.
Meanwhile, Railway General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya told the Sunday Times that they are unable to operate the Calypso train due to there being no engine. He explained that the M-6 engine which was used for the train is at the Nanu-Oya station, and that it is not possible to get the engine to Badulla as the track between Nanu Oya and Ambewela is damaged in three places.
Meanwhile, the initial phase of restoring the iconic Peradeniya “Yaka Palama” took 11 days, as rubble, broken branches and trees which came floating with flood waters and silt had covered the bridge.
Cleaning up the rubble on the iconic yaka palama. Pic by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
One of the pillars supporting the bridge had been hit by an uprooted tree floating down the river, causing it to break.
Railway engineer Dhanushka Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that it took them 11 days to clear rubble, tree trunks and 300 tons of silt mud accumulated on the bridge.
The swimming unit of Thalathuoya Navy Camp and employees of the Railway Department were deployed on restoration work. The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation too gave support to clear the rubble when the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake intervened.
When the cleaning process started, the floating excavator provided by the Land Development Authority helped remove the trees and rubble wedged between the pillars of the bridge, even while the water level was high.
The Class S14 power set was deployed yesterday and was scheduled to have four trips up and down from Ambewela to Badulla. Pic by Prasad Rukmal
Mr. Dissanayake said that further repairs of the bridge would be done under the expertise and observation of the Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University. This decision came after the Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake, and Railway General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya with a team of Railway officials went on an observation tour to identify the damage done to the upcountry railway track.
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