Railways Department on a Mission to improve services
Introduces Denuwara Menike, a train with a “black box” 75 compartments from India and eight power sets to be imported from China
The S14 Power Set imported from China for use in the upcountry railway is to be named “Denuwara Menike” and this train, the latest train in the railway department, will carry a “black box” similar to those in aircraft. It was bought for Rs.1,845 million from the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).
This train provides better facilities for the differently-abled, Railways General Manager Dilantha Fernando said at a media conference, referring to the power sets to be imported into the country.
Furthermore, he said they aim to empower the railway public transport service. By now six S13 power sets and four M11 engines from RITES Company in India and a S14 power set from the CRRC have been imported.these power sets and engines were imported under government approved loans from two local banks and with loan assistance from India.
“Similar to Sri Devi, Uththara Devi, Udaya Devi and Pulathisi Intercity Express trains, S13 is used as a new train which is able to travel to Beliatta in three hours,” Mr. Fernando said.
In addition, twelve G-engines from General Electrical Company in America under the Brazilian loan assistance system, 75 compartments from India and eight power sets from China are to be imported shortly. Accordingly, 160 compartments including those from China, will be operated in the future.
“The twelve G-engines from America and nine power sets from China are to be used on the upcountry railway line,” he said. Moreover, the compartments and engines ordered from China, Indonesia, America and India will be arriving soon,” Mr. Fernando continued.
In addition, with hopes of empowering the local industrialists and achieving a higher productivity in railway workshops, he said the Railway Department together with the Tantri Company has added 110 compartments to the fleet from their project of repairing 200 old compartments.
Mr. Fernando said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be providing loan assistance at reasonable interest rates to Sri Lanka till 2035 and that money was being used to create technologically advanced railway platforms throughout the country which are more suited for today.
A total of eight S14 trains are to be imported from China. The latest train named as “Denuwara Menike”, is to operate on the upcountry railway.this train consists of two air-conditioned first class compartments, two second-class compartments, a modernised cafeteria, two third-class compartments, an air conditioned operating room and two engines.
“Automated seats, computer systems with travel information, television screens, CCTV cameras in the front section of the engine to observe road conditions and sanitary and other facilities for the differently-abled are standard features on this train,” he said.
Electricity facilities have also been provided so that the passengers can charge their phones on the train during the ride.
A special facility in this train which had been absent in other trains was the availability of specific doorways for individuals using wheelchairs and other sanitary facilities for the differentlyabled, he said.
Mr. Fernando said his objective was to create a railway service from which passengers could reach their destinations without hassle and on time, just like in other countries.
We spoke to Railways Deputy General Manager A.D.G. Seneviratne over the changes expected in the railways system with the addition of the new train, Denuwara Menike.
“We would commission the train on the route with the maximum capacity. It will cater to the destinations of Polgahawela, Rambukkana, Peradeniya, Kandy, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Hatton, Talawakelle, Nanuoya, Ambewela, Pattipola, Haputale, Diyatalawa, Bandarawela, Ella, Demodara and Badulla,” he said. The train will leave Colombo Fort 7.10 in the morning and will reach Badulla at 4.51 in the afternoon. On the return journey the next day, it will leave Badulla at 7.30 in the morning and arrive in Colombo at 6 in the evening.
Mr. Seneviratne said they will decommission one train plying the hillcountry route after it was determined that the train could not be used for passenger transport any more.
“This decommissioned train and the engine would be placed at the railway museum. We will refurbish the train compartments that could be used and add them to office trains for commuter comfort,” he commented.
He said a train is an asset that has to be preserved for the future generations. “Trains are maintained by public funds. Therefore, it is the duty and the responsibility of the commuters to preserve the trains with care,” he said.
Explaining the mechanical aspect of Denuwara Menike,
Chief Mechanical Engineer at Ratmalana Railways Workshop, Keerthi Hewawithana said, the S-14 train consists of two engine compartments which are air-conditioned. This train which was brought down from the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation is the fourth train imported from China.
A power of 1,500 kilowatts can be be supplied to the train through an AC-DC power transmission system. The engine has a capacity of 3,500 litres of diesel and is equipped with 11 cylinders. The maximum speed it could achieve was 120 kilometres per hour.
The brake system is made by the German Company- Knorr-bremse which is renowned for manufacturing world class braking systems suited for hill-country trains.
Though the electric circuits of the engines are connected, they can be activated separately. Therefore, if one engine shuts down due to some reason, the train journey can be completed by the second engine.
Mr. Seneviratne said the train power set is equipped with a ‘black box’ similar to the flight recorder of an aircraft which automatically stores all operational data. “This is the latest feature of a train and the very first in Sri Lanka. The train also comes equipped with a GPS system and passengers can view their next destination by using it,” he said.
A team of close to a 100 employees has been deployed to take care of the train.