Power set shortage cuts KKS intercity to four days

Colombo, July 7 (Daily Mirror) - The daily Intercity Express train operating between Mount Lavinia and Kankesanthurai (KKS) will be limited to four days a week from July 10, due to a shortage of power sets, the Railway Station Master's Association said.

According to the Association's General Secretary, Kasun Chamara Jayasekara, the Intercity Express train departing Mount Lavinia Railway Station at 5.15 a.m. and leaving Colombo Fort Railway Station at 5.45 a.m. for Kankesanthurai, along with the return service departing Kankesanthurai at 1.50 p.m. for Mount Lavinia, will operate only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

As a result, there will be no morning Intercity Express service from Colombo to Jaffna and KKS on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Jayasekara further said that the Yal Devi Express service will also be reduced to one daily operation. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, passengers travelling to KKS will have to use the night mail train, which departs Colombo at 8.00 p.m.

The Railway Station Master's Association attributed the reduction in services to the shortage of available power sets required to operate the trains.

Issuing a statement, the Association criticised the repeated cancellation and curtailment of train services, claiming that passengers continue to face severe inconvenience due to the lack of adequate rolling stock.

The Association also alleged that the failure of the relevant railway and ministry officials to take urgent measures to address the shortage could lead to further deterioration of railway services in the future.Power set shortage disrupts KKS intercity schedule

The daily Intercity Express train operating between Mount Lavinia and Kankesanthurai (KKS) will be limited to four days a week from July 10, due to a shortage of power sets, the Railway Station Master's Association said.

According to the Association's General Secretary, Kasun Chamara Jayasekara, the Intercity Express train departing Mount Lavinia Railway Station at 5.15 a.m. and leaving Colombo Fort Railway Station at 5.45 a.m. for Kankesanthurai, along with the return service departing Kankesanthurai at 1.50 p.m. for Mount Lavinia, will operate only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

As a result, there will be no morning Intercity Express service from Colombo to Jaffna and KKS on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Jayasekara further said that the Yal Devi Express service will also be reduced to one daily operation. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, passengers travelling to KKS will have to use the night mail train, which departs Colombo at 8.00 p.m.

The Railway Station Master's Association attributed the reduction in services to the shortage of available power sets required to operate the trains.

Issuing a statement, the Association criticised the repeated cancellation and curtailment of train services, claiming that passengers continue to face severe inconvenience due to the lack of adequate rolling stock.

The Association also alleged that the failure of the relevant railway and ministry officials to take urgent measures to address the shortage could lead to further deterioration of railway services in the future.