Rail bus service back on track

11 May 2011 11:53 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 15 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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A new rail bus service from Gal-Oya to Trincomalee will commence on May 26 as part of the Eastern Development Project, the Railways Department said yesterday.

Railways Director of Planning, Wijaya Samarasinghe said that two new Ashok Leyland buses recently donated to Sri Lanka will be modified to create a rail bus for the purpose of the new railway service.

Samarasinghe said Sri Lanka is the only country in the Asian region that modifies buses to rail buses. The wheels of the two buses are removed and then joint together and further modifications are made accordingly, he said.

He said the new rail bus service will be officially declared open by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha in the presence of Minister Transport Kumara Welgama, Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake and other ministry officials. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

Comments - 15

Aruna Thursday, 12 May 2011 02:39 AM

Good job

5 16

ram Thursday, 12 May 2011 03:07 AM

How many times the gov. start this kind of service, only paper news. No such service on ground.

5 13

Obama Thursday, 12 May 2011 03:54 AM

please put in colombo too

2 7

Train Hobbyist Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:11 AM

We had real rail buses in the 60s. The one that are put on the tracks are ordinary buses with the pneumatic tires. replaced by steel flanged wheels. There are not safe at all. Time will tell.

1 6

Brenan Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:12 AM

Useless, if the other trains operate proper why this small bus taking so much time which was allocated for the longer trians to transport the 100s people. This is so stupid and no one practice this..this was a failure ... and they need some entertainment in the country i guess..

3 7

lankaman Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:00 AM

If indian HC needs to be there as chief guest at least they should donate 200 buses for rail service. for 2 buses he can get a honorary seat next to driver on first ride

4 6

Hish Thursday, 12 May 2011 05:48 AM

There is a reason for this to not be implemented anywhere else. Cos its not gonna bloody work. Bus wouldnt be able to with stand the vibration on a track without actualy modifying its suspentions

0 8

asoka Thursday, 12 May 2011 05:56 AM

Not only that... Sri Lanka is the only country in the Asian region to have a minister with a suicide squad...

1 7

nandana Thursday, 12 May 2011 05:58 AM

we are still having Rail Buses, but in India they have Metro Transit Systems?

3 10

Labby Thursday, 12 May 2011 06:56 AM

Please keep this away from Colombo. The last time we had this type of transport this so called rail bus made a test run from Puttalam to Negombo and it took no less than 4 hours to complete the journey.

0 7

MagodisThuma Thursday, 12 May 2011 08:42 AM

But...our economy is not back in the track !

1 5

punchi Thursday, 12 May 2011 10:23 AM

Dont always compair other countries what they have and we dont have. We must strive to achieve it

2 3

mani Thursday, 12 May 2011 03:32 PM

let start with two. if it success buy another 198

0 1

Traveller Friday, 13 May 2011 06:40 AM

why not convert all private buses to rail buses? We can reduce lot of traffic jams, accidents and bring more discipline to roads.

0 0

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