COLOMBO — Commuters across Sri Lanka are facing significant travel disruptions as the national railway network remains hamstrung in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. According to the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA), daily service capacity has plummeted, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or forced to seek alternative, often more expensive, modes of transport.
The Northern Railway Line has been hit particularly hard, with daily services slashed from 18 to just eight. Kasun Chamara Jayasekara, Secretary of the SLRSMA, highlighted that the reduction has created a logistical nightmare, especially on Wednesdays. On those days, options are narrowed down to a skeletal schedule consisting primarily of the Intercity Express and the Night Mail trains. Compounding the misery for those traveling to the North, the iconic Yal Devi Express is now operating only on alternate days, further straining an already overwhelmed network.
The crisis is not confined to the Northern Line. The situation across the Up Country routes—connecting Colombo Fort with major hubs like Badulla, Matale, Kandy, and Hatton—is even more dire. Official data indicates that out of 42 daily passenger and freight services, only eight remain operational. A staggering 34 services have been suspended indefinitely, effectively severing vital lifelines for residents and businesses that rely on rail for affordable transit and the movement of goods.
Jayasekara expressed deep frustration with the railway authorities’ response to the ongoing emergency. He noted that the Association has repeatedly petitioned the government and railway officials to restore normal operations, particularly after services were successfully resumed to Gampola last month. Despite these ongoing requests and the visible pressure on the public, the authorities have yet to provide a timeline for the restoration of full services or offer a favorable response to the union’s proposals for scaling back up.
The lack of movement from officials has sparked growing public discontent. For many commuters, the railway is the primary mode of affordable travel, and the current instability is placing a heavy financial burden on low-income workers and students. As the reduced timetable persists, the SLRSMA has warned that without immediate intervention, the backlog of passenger demand and the logistical challenges of maintaining even a limited schedule will continue to degrade the quality of rail service across the country.
For now, travelers are being urged to check the latest schedules before departing, as the status of many trains remains volatile due to the ongoing recovery efforts and the failure to return the network to its pre-cyclone capacity. As of this evening, there has been no official statement from the Department of Railways regarding a date for full service restoration.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
