The Department of Railways has announced a revised train schedule on the Batticaloa line, aimed at preventing collisions with elephants.This measure is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of both wildlife and train operations.
The department stated that additional speed limits will be enforced on trains operating at night to reduce the risk of elephant collisions.Both long-term and short-term measures have been implemented to address this issue, with the revised schedule being a primary step.
To minimize train operations during peak elephant movement times, the schedule has been adjusted to ensure trains pass through these areas either before or after these periods.
The revised schedule will cover the areas from Palugaswewa to Hingurakgoda and from Welikanda to Punani on the Batticaloa line, as well as from Gal Oya Junction to Kantale on the Trincomalee line.
The new schedule will come into effect on March 7, 2025. Additionally, plans are in place to deploy S-13 power sets for the “Meenagaya” intercity night mail train operating between Colombo Fort and Batticaloa.
