• Deputy Minister notes that 17% of trains run 10 mins. late, 10% by over 30 mins. 

The Government has announced plans to increase the number of locomotive engines in operation daily to minimise train delays and cancellations.

Following a visit to Ella, Transport and Highways Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated that this initiative aims to enhance the quality of railway services. “Before electric trains are introduced, train cancellations must stop. There are about 217 to 220 trains running daily. In the past, about 17 to 20 of them were cancelled. We need to stop the cancellations as much as possible. We need to do everything that we can to keep the train engines running,” he said.

Dr. Gunasena further stated that Sri Lanka requires about 60 to 70 train engines for daily operations, but that only 45 to 50 engines are currently available. He further assured that efforts are being made to increase this number, and that progress is being made. “By the end of February, the number of engines used for daily operations should be more than 60. Also, the number of cancellations per day should be reduced. About 52% of the trains running operate daily. A total of 17% are delayed by more than 10 minutes, and 10% are delayed by more than half an hour. If we want to improve the quality of this service, we need to make sure that the trains run on time. We have paid attention to that as well,” he added.