New Locomotives from India to Speed up Northern Rail Project. Ircon International, a State Owned Construction Firm Operating under Indian Railways is Executing 252km Northern Railway Track Reconstruction Project

31st March 2013, www.sundayobserver.lk

Three new locomotives, built at India's Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi, have arrived at the Colombo Port to speed up the Northern Rail project. These Locomotives are for the Sri Lanka Railway as part of the ongoing Northern Railway reconstruction project.

IRCON, General Manager S L Gupta said that three more locomotives would also be supplied to the Sri Lanka Railway under the Northern Railway project shortly. "These rail projects spreading over 250 kilometres in length are being funded as part of $ 800 million line of credit extended by the Indian Government."

Ircon International Limited, a state owned construction firm of India, operating under the Indian Railways is executing the 252 km-long northern railway track reconstruction project.

It was set up in 1976 by the Government of India as a wholly owned entity of the Ministry of Indian Railways and was then known as the Indian Railway Construction Company Limited.

"As the name indicates, initially, its primary charter was the construction of railway projects in India and abroad. Subsequently, the company diversified into the other transport infrastructure segments with its expanded and diversified scope of operations across the world," said Gupta.

"IRCON's growth to become a global construction firm was steady and fast. It has been a consistent winner of the 'Highest Foreign Exchange Earner' award in the construction sector in India for many years competing with many private construction companies."

"Under the Indian lines of credit, these railway lines from Medawachchiya to Talaimannar Pier and Omanthai to Kankesanthurai are being reconstructed. An ultra modern signalling and telecommunication system is also being installed under these lines of credit," said Gupta.

Being a state-owned construction company under Indian Railways and being globally recognised railway infrastructure builders, IRCON was the natural choice for this reconstruction project funded by the Government of India. When reconstructed, the track will be a modern railway line.

The Kalutara-Matara coastal railway line segment is also being upgraded by IRCON. The track is designed for a speed of 120 kmph with a smooth and comfortable riding quality.

Modern technology, such as flash butt welding, long welded rails, cast manganese steel crossing with standard turnouts are being used in the reconstruction. "No wooden sleepers have been used in constructing the entire track thus aiding forest conservation," said Gupta.

The project which has created employment opportunities for 2,000 Sri Lankans directly and many more thousands indirectly, will help the people of the Northern Province have a continuous train service from Jaffna or Talaimannar to Colombo once these railway lines become operational.

"IRCON and the Government of India are pleased to be part of Sri Lanka's development, while further strengthening the ties of friendship and solidarity between our two countries," said Gupta.

Ircon is a one of the largest engineering construction organisations of India and are pioneers in railway construction.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Selects IRCON International India to Reconstruct Northern Railway Line from Medawachchiya to Thalaimannar

• Sri Lanka Speeds up Investments in Transport Sector. Railways, a Priority. A New Master Plan being Prepared

• Sri Lanka Railways Cuts Losses by Freight Transport

Sri Lanka Railways Cuts Losses by Freight Transport

15th April 2011, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Increased freight transport has helped Sri Lanka's state-owned railway department sharply reduce losses in 2010, according to the central bank.

It said the performance of Sri Lanka Railways was mixed in 2010 with a drop in the number of people carried but an increase in goods transport.

Passenger kilometreage of Sri Lanka Railways fell 4.7 percent mainly due to the closure of the coastal railway line between the southern towns of Galle and Matara for rail track upgrading, the bank said in its annual report.

But goods kilometreage increased by 44 percent, mainly due to increased use of railway for oil transportation for the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

This helped SLR reduce operating losses by 33.5 percent to 3,173 million rupees in 2010.

The state railway has been making heavy losses in recent years and survived on subsidies by the treasury.

As part of its plans to regain profitability the railway has said it wants to increase freight transport and in recent months has been transporting oil for the CPC.

The government railway was used to transport oil on a regular basis decades ago and many of the CPC's installations and storage depots are in fact connected by rail.

But the CPC subsequently switched to road transport.

The central bank also said a substantial reduction of SLR's operating expenditure by 1.6 billion rupees in 2010 also helped to curtail the operating loss.

SLR carries only to about 05 percent of passengers and 02 percent of freight on its 1,640 kilometres of rail track.

"The railway network coverage, reliability and the service delivery should be improved in line with the emerging transport demand of the country," the report said.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Speeds up Investments in Transport Sector. Railways, a Priority. A New Master Plan being Prepared

• Second Phase of mTicketing Launched by Sri Lanka Railways & Mobitel. Subscribers Dial 365 to Access Ticketing Portal

Second Phase of mTicketing Launched by Sri Lanka Railways & Mobitel. Subscribers Dial 365 to Access Ticketing Portal

06th April 2011, www.island.lk

Sri Lanka Railways together with Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, will enter the next phase of mTicketing. Sri Lanka’s first mobile railway ticket reservation system was launched in 2009, to offer railway commuters the convenience of reserving tickets for intercity travel over a mobile phone call.

"Under the initial phase, the service was confined to the Colombo – Kandy route. The new service extends intercity travelling to Vavuniya and Batticaloa through its advanced reservation system, and plans are already underway to extend the service to Omanthei as well in the very near future.

All Mobitel customers can enjoy the service through the Mobitel Ticketing portal by simply dialling 365 from their Mobitel phone. Further, as tickets can be reserved over the phone, the need for a passenger to make an additional trip to the railway station to reserve tickets in advance is completely eliminated.

Sri Lanka Railways and Mobitel hope to extend this facility to other Telecommunication Operators in the near future," a joint statement said.

Claiming a history of over a century, Sri Lanka’s rail transportation has contributed immensely to the growth of the economy in the country. Taking its first steps in transporting tea, rubber and coconut, Sri Lankan Railways has played a pivotal role in the growth of the export sector. Presently, the government establishment has grown to nurture transportation services throughout Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the extension of the innovative service, Dhammika Perera, Secretary Ministry of Transport who graced the occasion as Chief Guest stated "With the extension of the ‘mTicketing System’ to many other intercity routes, we are delighted to take our initial strides towards a milestone in transportation services. Sri Lanka Railways and Mobitel, two vanguards share mutual passion to make our services hassle free and an enjoyable experience for the users".

The unique mTicketing service is available 365 days of the year and bookings will be updated on a real time basis. Upon dialling 365 and reserving one’s railway ticket, the total ticketing charge would be added to the customer’s Mobitel bill or deducted from their account in case of a SMART Pre Paid user.

Mobitel customers have now been offered the convenience of collecting the ticket from the station or any Mobitel Branch.

Speaking at the event, A. G. Mahanama, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways said, "The service extended by Mobitel will help to enhance an efficient railways system to emerge in the future. The initiative is undoubtedly the way forward and I believe that services like this will bring people to engage further in railways transportation. I sincerely thank Mobitel for their relentless commitment in spearheading the initiative and expanding across to many ther intercity routes. A method that will revolutionise all transpiration systems in Sri Lanka, unravels today"

Suren J. Amarasekera CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel said, "In line with our premise as the National Mobile Services Provider, Mobitel has readily supported projects that aim to empower our country through the infusion of ICT. We consider it a privilege to take the solution with Sri Lanka Railways to the next level and in doing so reflect ‘care’ in all our endeavours to uplift and work towards the greater development of our country and its people."