SL RAILWAYS HUFFS AND PUFFS THROUGH LOGISTIC ISSUES

It is reported that there are over 200 vacancies for engine drivers at Sri Lanka Railways at present. The issue has been identified as one of the main reasons for train delays and cancellations of trains. This issue with Sri Lanka Railways has left passengers in dismay.

- By Manjula D. Phillips

Sources reveal that 136 vacancies for Train Guards also exist.

In addition there are over 400 vacancies for Station Masters across train stations in the island.

Apart from the vacancies that exist in the Railways, there are technical problems that add to the miseries of the Sri Lanka Railways. The most recent issue was when the Sri Lanka Railway Locomotive Operating Engineers Union announced last Friday (June 6) that it would withdraw from operating trains on the coastal railway line on Friday itself. The reason for their grievance was the signal system on the coastal railway line being out of order. They had voiced their grievances citing the unsafe situation for both passengers and railways staff. They maintained that this was a longstanding problem. The Sri Lanka Railway Locomotive Operating Engineers Union later temporarily suspended the strike after a discussion they had with the General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways which produced a positive outcome.

Meanwhile it is also reported that there are more than 1200 railway crossings that cannot provide adequate safety measures. Critics and commuters by train point out that this is the main reason for the recurring railway accidents across the country over past few years.