Railways propose daytime operation of night mail trains to protect wild elephants

Colombo, Nov.26 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Railway Department is considering shifting certain night mail trains to daytime operations in areas frequently visited by wild elephants, following safety concerns raised by train drivers and unions.

The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMU) Secretary Kasun Chamara Jayasekara explained that recent schedule adjustments caused confusion and inconvenience for passengers. “Several night mail trains from Colombo to Trincomalee, Colombo to Batticaloa, and Moratuwa to Kankesanthurai ran without advance seat reservations yesterday. The lack of prior notification led to public criticism at stations,” he said. He noted that while the changes were requested by the Railway Drivers’ Union, questions remain about whether daytime operations will meet the travel needs of people who typically rely on night trains to arrive in time for work and other essential tasks.

From a safety perspective, the move aims to reduce the risk of elephant-train collisions. Chandana Wiyanduwa, Secretary of the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union, told Ada Derana that “a train cannot stop instantly to avoid hitting an elephant. Nighttime operations pose the highest risk. We have requested the government and Railway Department to implement preventive measures, and they have assured us a solution is forthcoming.”

The proposed shift highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing public transport efficiency with wildlife conservation in areas where human and elephant habitats intersect.