Train services on a sticky wicket, due to engine shortage

By Yohan Basura  

The railway authorities are on a sticky wicket due to shortage of locomotive engines which always result in cancellations and delays in train services.   

A senior official of the Railway Department said that despite the department needing at least 70 engines in good condition to run the services smoothly without delays and cancellations, the department has only 50 engines for the daily operations.  

He stated that most of the engines currently in use were also developing technical issues daily resulting in unexpected cancellations and delays of services.   

He lamented that repairs of engines sometimes take months due to shortages of spare parts.