Many stranded due to railway strike

9 October 2014 02:11 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A large number of commuters have been stranded due to the ongoing island wide railway strike which was launched by the Professional Railway Trade Union Alliance (PRTUA) last night. Railway authorities said that less than 15 trains out of 108 are in operation.

Meanwhile speaking to the Daily Mirror, Railways Superintendent L.A.R Rathnayake said, twenty five trains have been deployed despite trade union strike today to facilitate those who were returning to Colombo after the Hajj festival.

All train services were cancelled from last night due to a strike by the Professional Railway Trade Union Alliance (PRTUA).

However, the Department of Railways said it had deployed alternate train services.

“Trains were allocated to Galle, Aluthgama, Kandy, Rambukkana, Polgahawela, Maho, Awissawella and Chilaw this morning. If the strike continues till this evening, we will do our best to allocate more trains to facilitate the office staff to return homes,” Mr. Rathnayaka said.

All the night mail trains leaving to and returning from Badulla, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Palai had been cancelled due to the island wide strike by PRTUA from last night.

Ratnayake said no long distance trains were operated since last night.

“However, there might be delays or shortage of trains unlike normal days. Therefore, we would like to remind commuters that there might be inconveniences,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of National Transport Commission Renuka Perera said special buses had been deployed from main stations in Kandy, Matara, Kurunegala and Galle to Colombo due to the strike.

The NTC was planning to allocate more buses to facilitate the people who were coming to Colombo and it would continue until the train strike ended, he said.

Comments - 8

ABC Thursday, 09 October 2014 08:03 AM

I think these people behave like Railway is a property belongs to them. via DM Android App

Babara Thursday, 09 October 2014 02:47 AM

The strike is by the "Professional Railway Trade Union Alliance" which consists of drivers, station masters and other technical stall such as foemen, inspectors. This is a correct name as most engineers in Sri Lanka are not really professional. They only carry an alphabet at the end of their name. Which the "Professional Railway Trade Union Alliance" success.

rathne Thursday, 09 October 2014 03:14 AM

Lot of people have decided to stay home comparing average 45 min travel in a train vs average 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs travel time in a bus for same distance and with prevailing bad weather. What a waste of productivity to the country!!!!!

the Thursday, 09 October 2014 03:18 AM

engineers in this country are not professionals. They only two or three steps behind in the caliber of dirty politicians. They are the main responsible for the failures of organizations like CEB, Water Board, Telecom, Petroleum, Ports......

Robin Thursday, 09 October 2014 03:21 AM

This strike was timed to sabotage the inauguration of northern railway service. ABSURD

Sajith Thursday, 09 October 2014 09:19 AM

Now I badly miss Mr Premadasa He never allowed to act like this.

Niorshan Thursday, 09 October 2014 04:23 AM

Is there any professionalism at Sri Lanka Railway, this is one of horrible I the world. heee hooo

dogma Thursday, 09 October 2014 10:24 AM

It is about time we had proper and improved transport system in railway stations and bus stand These are like nerves of the island You should introduce insurance scheme and subsidiaries to improve services bus fares and railway fares are increase Then you increase all private and government salary too Yet still and now need develop transport system All these should be put forward biannually in the forth coming buget 2015 via DM Android App

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Many stranded due to railway strike

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