Renovation Challenges: Several Upcountry Train Services Face Temporary Suspension

 The Railway Department states that a test train was operated yesterday (16) to inspect the operational status of several sections of the Upcountry railway line that had undergone renovation work after being obstructed by landslides and earth slips. Accordingly, this special test train was operated from Ambewela to Badulla, and

materials and workers required for the repair work were transported, and the suitability of the track was inspected.

Mr. Danushka Dissanayake, District Engineer for the Upcountry region of the Railway Department, stated that damaged sections of the track are being repaired with the strong dedication of Railway Department employees, and that arrangements are being made to obtain a safety certificate from the National Building Research Organisation before opening the track for passenger transport. During these operations, which are being carried out under the instructions of the Minister of Transport, additional service trains were operated yesterday from Nawalapitiya to Kotagala, and the day before yesterday (15) from Bandarawela to Ambewela.

However, road maintenance engineers point out that restoring the section of the track from Kotagala to Ambewela has become extremely difficult and challenging. Sections of the track between 50 and 100 meters near Kotagala, Great Western,

Nanu Oya, and Ambewela railway stations have been affected by landslides, causing severe damage to railway tracks and sleepers.

Especially since filling the landslide-affected areas around the Great Western mountain range with earth or cutting an alternative route is practically difficult, restoring the section from Kotagala to Nanu Oya will take a long time. Furthermore, due to damage to the Peradeniya bridge and landslides near the Nawalapitiya brick culvert, train services from Kandy to Nawalapitiya are still obstructed.