General Discussion

Thank you Nipuna. It will be much appreciated if you keep us informed about the updates on SLR.

SL Gov has received 318$ from India for developing the Sri Lanka Railways. Do you know what sort of development SL gov would like to make on SLR? I wish they refurbish all the old railway tracks, railway stations, signals and coaches.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/10...lanka-railways

All the locos in M4 fleet is still in service.

Well I don't see a critical requirement of retiring old fleets. But we need more reliable locos and DMUs like S12. Failure rate of old fleets are getting high. And there's a loco shortage too. Commissions factor and diplomatic pressure are also playing major role in these purchases too.

Yes I agree SLR should focus on passenger comfort by deploying better coaches. But I don't see Indian coaches are an option. We experience the bad quality of those Indian products on daily basis. And I agree the time is up for Astra coaches, but I can assure you they are still strong even after 30 years of service. And almost all long distance trains already are running with 10-12 coaches except for upcountry line. More than 12 would be a no go as I mentioned earlier stations barely accommodate bigger trains except for Coastal and Northern lines.

Well, Class M9 is said to be already de-rated to 1800 hp and max power is 3200 hp. Still it can haul fair number of coaches with this power. Stations in SL can barely accommodate a train that has beyond 15-16 coaches. So in my opinion there won't be a power increment. What they do is simply replacing the control system with a new one. More details haven't been out yet.

Original system was giving troubles when running in SL environment. As the solution what people at SLR did was, removing sensors one by one. Then the whole system went unreliable. I don't know what they've done this time, other than the OS replacement. Will let you know once anything is out.

This group is a good source of information: yakadayaka/ Have a look at it if you like.

Is M4 still in service?
What is the need for more locos and DMUs? Are the old ones going to be retired?
I feel that SL better invest on better train-coaches. I really hate the appearance of Romanian built Astras. I think its very weak. SL have to get more coaches from India. So most of the long distances trainss could haul with at least 12 carriages.

Cheers

Good to hear this. What sort of renovation these M9s going to get? Any possibility they can get re-work on the engine to increase the hose power?

Yes 866 is back on service. At least test runs. They have installed a new control system from India called "Medha" based on Windows 7 embedded version. I have no idea about exact numbers. But there are only a few working, may be 3 or 4. I've seen 872 is working. Heard 867 is going to be renovated next (Or already done).

Well, there are many rumours about these newcomers. Another most talked rumour is SLR is going to have GE locos (most probably made in India - according to Railway Gazette GE is going to have a plant in India) similar to GE CM20-EMP in Indonesian Railway with 7FDL engine. Then there's a rumour that SLR is going to have another batch of DMU sets similar to Class S12 from China. Then this pure Indian locos, coaches and DMUs you stated. Rumours say there are some leftovers of Indian credit line for SLR.

Only thing we can do is hope for the best, which is usually not happening.

From the past experience, Chinese DMUs (Class S12) are performing nicely. They are the most efficient and well performing work-horse by now.

These GE locos are going to be high tech locos like Class M9, if they are coming at all. These high tech locos like Class M9 were not handled the way they should be in the SLR. That was the cause for the fate of Class M9. But gradually they are becoming familiar with computer controlled locomotives it seems. Let's see how do they deal with the latest renovations on the Class M9 locomotives.

Finally Indian locomotives, coaches and DMUs. Well, they do their job. Class M8 is the most powerful locomotive the SLR has. But there are serious concerns about their efficiency, durability and quality. With heavy diplomatic pressure from India they still run. Coaches are the same. They are not comfortable as decades old Romanian coaches even now. Same concerns are there for DMUs as for Indian locomotives. Class S11 is performing quite better than M8 and M10 in efficiency. It's much comfortable for passengers too. But again there are many issues in safety, durability and quality.

Is M9 (866) back on service ? i saw picture somewhere with a new paint. How many M9s are on service in Sri Lanka?

Does other lines like Colombo-Jaffna, Colombo-Matara, Colombo-Kandy etc have the new railway tracks? because the old tracks are not suitable for high speed trains for atleast 100 kmph.

According to Railway Gazette, SL is going to receive DLW locos and ICF DMU from India next year. Hope SL will select the good locos with better hose power.

Hi,

I'm not very sure on any updates on the Matara - Hambantota line yet, but I think it is still undergoing construction slowly.

Hi Haleef,

I am a fan of Railway Industry and its good to hear Matara - Kataragama railway extension project have been 85% completed : http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2017/06...ars-completion

Since I am out of touch on Sri Lanka railways in the recent years , I am curious to know more about latest update on Sri Lanka Railway industry. Please tell me the list of Railway Lines have the new tracks in Sri Lanka.

Cheers

Railway Discussion Thread

Good news for Train Lovers !!

This is a discussion thread for discussing about emerging Railway Industry in Sri Lanka. You can also discuss about international Railways on this thread. Please do share the pictures , news, updates and videos on this thread.

I am a great fan of Sri Lanka Train locomotives. I had a great chance to be in my favourite loco M4 -,several years ago.

I will be sharing the train pictures and videos from Europe.

Thanks for contributing on this thread.


I found this nice picture from google. Credits to original owner. Does any one know the location where does the picture must have taken in Sri Lanka?

Spot on!!

I think it's a good idea also about the industrial zone.
Srilanka can't build any factory or production anytime soon.
If this china factories comes ,at least our guys will have jobs and can get experience,eventually it's a benefit for our country ,nowadays most of the srilanka s are 3wheel drivers others are labourers in Middle East which they don't get any life experience . The cycle is eg normally they study up to o/l due to family difficulties they go to Middle East work like horse 5-6 then coming back and drive 3 wheel then go behind politics ,this is the srilankan cycle ,for example as I know about China most of them work in factories part time they study, learn what happens in factory they try to open up a small work shop what big factory needs , for example a garment factory staff eventually open a work shop where he can print labels and sell it to the garment factory where he worked.

We need to change srilanka life cycle , currently only one bread winner all others just stay at home talking nonsense,
If we have factories even students can work part time ,then will not have poverty nowadays everyone depend on one person in family this kind of things will change, we can't wait till srilanka open there own factories now we need to go with the trend...

I would like to know your views about Sri Lanka leasing Hambantota Port to China for 99 years.