The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has alleged that the Railways Department is continuing to postpone the resumption of long-distance train services that were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, thus causing great inconvenience to passengers.
Speaking to The Morning yesterday (2), SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara charged that the Railways Department has not yet taken action to resume long distance train services which had been cancelled for a prolonged period due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Due to the pandemic situation in the country, long distance train services have not been operational for more than a year. As the Railways Department was covering up the matter under the guise of Covid-19, we had to even engage in a trade union action demanding the resumption of long distance train services,” he said.
Chamara said that despite the Railways Department’s announcement that long distance train services would be resumed from 1 January 2022 in the face of the SLRSMU’s trade union action, it was postponed to 2 January and the Railways Department has failed to resume the said service on that day as well. He claimed that the resumption of long distance train services has once again been postponed till 9 January.
“It has become a joke for the Railways Department to provide transport facilities to the passengers. Even though the Department has announced that they would be resumed on 9 January, we cannot believe what the authorities are claiming,” stated Chamara.
Claiming that the Railways Department had stated it was unable to operate long distance train services due to a shortage of engine driving assistants, he said that it is the responsibility of the Railways Department to address the issues, if any.
“The Railways Department from time to time announces the start dates of long distance train services. After hearing such, the people come to the railway stations to make seat reservations. At that time, it is us who have to answer the passengers,” Chamara further charged.
When contacted by The Morning to inquire about the plans to resume long distance train services, Railways General Manager Dammika Jayasundara said that there was a shortage of railway guards and engine driving assistants which has resulted in the delay in resumption of the said services. However, he said that immediate steps will be taken to recruit the railway guards and engine driver assistants under contract basis, after which the long distance services will be resumed.