Revamped Galle-Matara railway line launched with help from IR

[StingRoy]

Revamped Galle-Matara railway line launched

The Galle-Matara section of the Sri Lankan Railways, upgraded by IRCON, was thrown open for traffic on Wednesday. The renovated line cut travelling time by over 15 minutes over the 42-km stretch. Photo: R.K.Radhakrishnan

At 12.50 p.m., when a train on the Galle-Matara railway line crossed 100 kmph speed, it marked a first for the Sri Lankan Railway. Never in the past has a Sri Lankan train done those speeds.

This was possible after a major upgradation by the Indian public sector entity, IRCON. The modernised Galle-Matara railway track was inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon, ushering in a new era in speed for Sri Lankan Railways.

A line of credit of $167.4 million was extended by India for the rehabilitation of the Colombo-Matara rail link. Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha in August had ceremonially inaugurated the work on Sri Lanka's southern coastal railway line.

The first train was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and Mr. Kantha. They also travelled on the train to Matara.

Merely 15 minutes after Galle, it hit a speed of 100 km per hour. It completed the distance in just over 30 minutes, a gain of 15 minutes.

The rail lines, which were damaged during the 2004 tsunami have been upgraded with the assistance of Government of India.

Train service between Matara and Galle was suspended for the last six months for carrying out the modernisation work.

Under the 2nd stage of this project the railway track from Galle to Hikkaduwa will be modernised. Hikkaduwa to Kalutara South and Kalutara South to Maradana will be modernised under the 3rd and 4th stages respectively.

 

[Roybot]

Should have put a Chinese flag on the train as well, since the the train sets were bought from China

 

[tanlixiang28776]

Should have put a Chinese flag on the train as well, since the the train sets were bought from China

Nothing says that in the article. How do you know?

 

[Roybot]

Nothing says that in the article. How do you know?

Lets just say am a train geek.

 

[tanlixiang28776]

Lets just say am a train geek.

Really, what is the fastest train in service then? Whats the slowest?

 

[CardSharp]

Nothing says that in the article. How do you know?

Shouldn't be surprised China is cranking loads of different trains for both internal and external use.

 

[Roybot]

Really, what is the fastest train in service then? Whats the slowest?

In Sri Lanka?

 

[tanlixiang28776]

In Sri Lanka?

you're responding to slowest right?

 

[Roybot]

you're responding to slowest right?

I have no idea where you going with this.

http://www.csrgc.com.cn/ens/cpyfw/dcz/2008-06-18/716.shtml

Railways - Page 7 - SkyscraperCity

 

[StingRoy]

This news has its share of controversy as well... see below.

Railway employees won’t take part in opening
Railway employees yesterday said that they will not take part in the official opening of the Galle-Matara railway line which will take place today since the Government had chosen to contract with an Indian company as opposed to local railway employees to build the track.

All Ceylon Railway Employees General Union, General Secretary, Sumathipala Manawadu said that there are inefficiencies in the railways department but said that it is partly due to the lack of trust and reliance the authorities have in the work of local railway department workers and engineers.

“After the Tsunami in 2004 we worked collectively to rebuild the broken tracks. We worked hard and were committed in our efforts to rebuild the tracks, but now they have forgotten this,” Manawadu said.

He said that if the necessary raw materials and technology is provided, railway employees could finish the track within a shorter duration and at a lower cost than the Indians that have been hired for the task.

“Foreign stakeholders such as India charge approx. Rs.650 million to construct one kilometer of the railway track. We on the other hand informed the authorities that we could do the job for Rs.450 million for each kilometer,” he said.

“We will not be attending the railway opening because of this,” he said. The development of the Galle-Matara railway line is the first stage of the Colombo-Matara railway project.

 

[tanlixiang28776]

I have no idea where you going with this.

CSR Corporation Limited

Railways - Page 7 - SkyscraperCity

Just quizzing your train knowledge.

 

[Roybot]

This news has its share of controversy as well... see below.

Railway employees won’t take part in opening

Well India provided the loan for revamping this stretch, so they should stop sulking.