Audio: Trains on the Northern line disrupted today as well

The train disruption on the Northern Railway line due to yesterdays train accident would be in effect today as well, the Railway Operations Superintendent L.A.M. Ratnayake said

“Trains operating from Colombo Fort would be terminated at Polgahawela while trains returning to Colombo on the Northern Railway line would be terminate at Kurunegala,” Mr. Rathnayaka said.

The tracks are being cleared now and train services would begin when the tracks are cleared, he said.

If cleared trains on the northern line could start even later today, he said.

Five employees of the Railways Department who were on duty at the time of the Potuhera train accident, including the engine driver of the Palai bound train had been interdicted until the investigations were concluded, Mr. Ratnayake said.

Ratnayake said the assistant to the engine driver, the controller of the Palai train and the station master and the train signal operator at the Pothuhera station were among those interdicted.

A special investigation team had been appointed by the Railways General Manager yesterday to look into the incident, he said.

According to the Railway Control Room the train services on the Northern Railway line had been stopped due to the Potuhera railway accident and the trains leaving from Colombo to North will be stopped at Polgahawela railway station, said.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama yesterday instructed the General Manager to give relief to accident victims and arrangements were being made to issue compensation, he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)