By Tharumalee Silva
The shocking deaths of 42-year-old Sajeewa Chinthaka Silva and his 11-year-old daughter Oshandi, after their motorcycle collided with a Colombo Fort-bound train in Veyangoda in the early hours of 15 July, unearthed a new concern for the safety of the general public near railway tracks, especially in rural areas.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident had occurred when two trains travelled on parallel lines in two directions, where the second train’s arrival was not seen by Silva. The timing had been such that just as Silva had crossed the railway line right after the first train had passed, they had collided with the second train.
“A bell rang and after the first train went by, the father thought that it was the bell for the first train. He didn’t expect another train to come on the second track, so he crossed the line, and shortly afterwards, the second train arrived, which is when they collided,” an eyewitness stated.
A resident of the area, who was also an eyewitness to the incident, stated that this incident calls attention to a long-standing need for a railway crossing gate where the road intersects the railway track.
According to statistics from Sri Lanka Railways, 241 lives were lost in the past six months due to railway accidents.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Sri Lanka Railways General Manager M.J.D. Fernando stated that Sri Lanka Railways do not have the necessary resources to install electric railway gates.
“We cannot install electric railway gates as it is even more dangerous; when the gates go down and if a vehicle is trapped in between, it would give birth to a lot more disasters. Therefore, we have to make sure three operators monitor the gates vigilantly, 24-hours. This is not practical and we don’t have the necessary resources to provide this sort of service,” he said.
Sri Lanka currently has 1,300 level crossings in the 1,555 km railway lines running throughout the island. Fernando said that Sri Lanka Railways is currently working towards installing the electric light bulb system around the island.
“The light and bell system is a world-accepted method used for railway crossings. It is very hard to believe when they say that the systems break down. We have tendered to India to build 200 light and bell systems, 200 light and bell installations to a Hungarian company on a soft loan, and another 200 to a private company named ‘Enable’, which has already installed 110 with 90 remaining around the island,” Fernando informed.
The double-crossing railway lines have taken many lives throughout the years, including the tragedy that involved two school students who walked to their death in an unfortunate incident in Dehiwala in 2016.
Recently, seven army personnel were caught in a tragic accident at an unprotected railway line in Kilinochchi, which claimed the lives of five of them.
The lack of discipline
Further providing clarification, Sri Lanka Railways Deputy General Manager – Operating A.D.G. Seneviratne stated that there was an average of 10-15 railway accidents per week in Sri Lanka. According to him, these accidents are the result of pure negligence on the part of the general public.
“People must be cautious and vigilant around railway crossings; they have to realise the fatal consequences of not adhering to the rules and regulations of railways. The price too is much higher than that of a road accident. When a road accident occurs, you pay a fine and get on with your activities, but when you don’t adhere to railway traffic rules, you most probably pay with your life. People need to realise this and not commit these careless acts,” he said.
He also spoke of a certain project Sri Lanka Railways carried out by fining those who did not follow the railway traffic rules. “We imposed a fine on those who passed through when the bell and light signalled a nearby train without following railway traffic regulations. However, we were asked to stop this initiative due to political influence,” he said.
He further stated that the main reason for grave accidents is the public’s lack of discipline, adding: “People must pay attention to the bell and the light at the railway crossings more than they pay attention to colour lights on the road.”
There have been 206 recorded instances where vehicles have damaged level-crossing gates in 2019, with 49 instances in January, 54 in February, 48 in March, seven in April, and 42 in May.
The lack of manpower
Speaking on the matter, Seneviratne confirmed Fernando’s statement of Sri Lanka Railways lacking the necessary manpower.
“There are 1,300 railway crossings in the country, and it would bear a total cost of Rs. 15 million to install barriers. This act alone isn’t enough. We have to provide three men to man each installation and provide 24-hour service to make sure accidents don’t happen and the operations run smoothly. That in total is 3,900 individuals – not a cost that can be borne by Sri Lanka Railways,” he said.
To combat this issue, Sri Lanka Railway is currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Defence to provide security at railway crossings.
Seneviratne informed The Sunday Morning that the discussions are with relation to installing traffic bumps to slow down vehicles when nearing railway crossings.
“These will not be normal speed bumps; they will be of considerable size, so that the vehicle will have to completely slow down when passing it,” he stated.
Train and vehicle collisions at level crossings amount to a total of 31 deaths up until May in 2019 – seven deaths recorded in January, three in February, 11 in March, seven in April, and three in May.
When asked about the issue of the bell and light systems breaking down in certain areas due to rain and other environmental as well as external factors, Seneviratne stated: “Sri Lanka Railways takes full responsibility for those rare instances, but most accidents recorded have been due to the lack of vigilance by the victims.”
Further providing clarification, Sri Lanka Railways Deputy General Manager – Operating A.D.G. Seneviratne stated that there was an average of 10-15 railway accidents per week in Sri Lanka. According to him, these accidents are the result of pure negligence on the part of the general public.
“People must be cautious and vigilant around railway crossings; they have to realise the fatal consequences of not adhering to the rules and regulations of railways. The price too is much higher than that of a road accident. When a road accident occurs, you pay a fine and get on with your activities, but when you don’t adhere to railway traffic rules, you most probably pay with your life. People need to realise this and not commit these careless acts,” he said.
He also spoke of a certain project Sri Lanka Railways carried out by fining those who did not follow the railway traffic rules. “We imposed a fine on those who passed through when the bell and light signalled a nearby train without following railway traffic regulations. However, we were asked to stop this initiative due to political influence,” he said.
He further stated that the main reason for grave accidents is the public’s lack of discipline, adding: “People must pay attention to the bell and the light at the railway crossings more than they pay attention to colour lights on the road.”
There have been 206 recorded instances where vehicles have damaged level-crossing gates in 2019, with 49 instances in January, 54 in February, 48 in March, seven in April, and 42 in May.
The lack of manpower
Speaking on the matter, Seneviratne confirmed Fernando’s statement of Sri Lanka Railways lacking the necessary manpower.
“There are 1,300 railway crossings in the country, and it would bear a total cost of Rs. 15 million to install barriers. This act alone isn’t enough. We have to provide three men to man each installation and provide 24-hour service to make sure accidents don’t happen and the operations run smoothly. That in total is 3,900 individuals – not a cost that can be borne by Sri Lanka Railways,” he said.
To combat this issue, Sri Lanka Railway is currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Defence to provide security at railway crossings.
Seneviratne informed The Sunday Morning that the discussions are with relation to installing traffic bumps to slow down vehicles when nearing railway crossings.
“These will not be normal speed bumps; they will be of considerable size, so that the vehicle will have to completely slow down when passing it,” he stated.
Train and vehicle collisions at level crossings amount to a total of 31 deaths up until May in 2019 – seven deaths recorded in January, three in February, 11 in March, seven in April, and three in May.
When asked about the issue of the bell and light systems breaking down in certain areas due to rain and other environmental as well as external factors, Seneviratne stated: “Sri Lanka Railways takes full responsibility for those rare instances, but most accidents recorded have been due to the lack of vigilance by the victims.”