The Yaldevi Express train between Colombo Fort and Kankesanthurai (KKS) started its maiden journey on April 23, 1956.
Yaldevi and Udarata Menike and Ruhunu Kumari trains, which had already started, used new M2 class locomotives imported from Canada. Yaldevi had a fast run that day. According to the timetable of the Railway Department, Yaldevi had only stops at Ragama, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Mahava Junction, Galgamuwa, Anuradhapura, Medawachchiya, Vavuniya, Mankulam, Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Palai, Kodikammam, Chavakachcheri, Jaffna, Kondavil, Chunnakam and KKS.
Even though inter-city express trains can go faster than the Yaldevi, the name ‘Yaldevi’ has remained in the hearts of people from the North and the South for nearly 70 years. The Northern Railway was opened on February 14, 1894. Passenger trains on that route were started in 1905/1906.
In 1956, it took 7 hours and 20 minutes for Yaldevi to go from Colombo to Jaffna, which started during the day, in addition to the 9 p.m. mail train which took almost 12 hours. Yaldevi’s journey was stopped after 1986 due to terrorist threats. Although Yaldevi, which was limited to Vavuniya, started again in 1989, it was stuck for 24 years from 1990 without any operations.
After the end of the LTTE conflict, the complete renovation of the Northern Railway was started under the Indian Credit Line. The train made its maiden journey on October 13, 2014. The road was fully constructed by the Indian company Ircon from Omanthai to KKS. Even though the track was built with the help of India, temporary patches were placed on the railway line from Mahawa to Omanthai, but no permanent solution was found for it.
At that time, the Yaldevi Express train took 8 hours and the intercity express train took 6.5 hours to travel from Colombo to KKS. Even though the timetables were set up as such, the travel time sometimes increased by almost an hour, inconveniencing the passengers and freight owners.
At some places, the speed of the train was limited to 20 km per hour. Therefore, it was proposed to undertake a complete renovation of the railway line between Mahawa Junction and Omanthai with Indian assistance. But after the Covid pandemic, those proposals were thrown aside.
Gopal Baglay
However, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena discussed this matter with Gopal Baglay, who held the position of Indian High Commissioner at that time. They agreed that work on the line should resume without delay.
Accordingly, under the Indian Loan Assistance Scheme, the railway line from Mahawa Junction to Omanthai on the Northern Line was rehabilitated. The complete renovation of the 128-kilometre long railway line from Mahawa to Omanthai was started in January last year at a cost of US$ 91.27 million.
In relation to Phase 1, on January 7, 2023, the 61.6 km railway line from Anuradhapura to Omanthai was completely closed and the renovation of the railway line started. Under that, three stations from Anuradhapura to Omanthai, Parasangaswawa, Medawachchiya, and Vavuniya, and all the sub-stations of Mihintale Junction, Saliyapura, Medagama, Punewa, Iratteperiakulam and Thandikulam were also modernised.
After the complete reconstruction of the track, travel started again using the Yaldevi and the travel time could be reduced by about 7 1/2 hours. Although it was possible to travel at a speed of 100 km per hour from Anuradhapura to KKS, the speed of the train from Mahawa to Anuradhapura was very low, ranging from about 10 km per hour to about 32 km per hour. Therefore, after several months of North-South train service, the work on the railway section from Mahawa to Anuradhapura, which is the 2nd stage, was started on January 7 this year.
Rail services on that route have also been completely suspended. However, a direct bus service from Mahawa Junction to Anuradhapura operates from near Mahawa Junction railway station for the convenience of passengers. In this reconstruction as well, Indian special rails are used which are stronger and taller than the normal rails used on Sri Lankan rail tracks.
Also, the railway line will be completely removed, new ground will be prepared and where necessary, underground excavations will be carried out like on the highway, and granite will be laid.
Ashoka Munasinghe, the director of the railway rehabilitation project in Mahawa, says that under the 2nd phase, the railway line will be completely rehabilitated from Anuradhapura to Mahawa Junction. According to Munasinghe, up to 12 kilometres of the railway line has been laid with granite and the necessary underground environment has been created to lay the new track on top of it.
Bridges
He also said that Indian experts have identified the need for construction and bridges after inspecting the land and bridge bases connected to the railway line. Here, five main railway bridges are being newly established. The railway track will be 500 mm (20 inches) higher than the current one. Therefore, railway stations and crossings should be modernised accordingly. For that, the Department is carrying out works related to railway stations and railway crossings. Some bigger bridges which are anyway in a good condition will not be repaired.
Although the train can travel at a speed of 120 km per hour on this route, the Sri Lanka Railways will operate trains at a speed of 100 km per hour. Minister Dr. Gunawardena has also requested that the track be rebuilt before the upcoming Poson Poya day.
“Therefore, we are trying to finish the complete reconstruction work of the railway by May 31, 2024 and make the trains ready for running soon afterwards,” Munasinghe said.
It should also be pointed out that the railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura will be operated with full colour signals. The hand signal system (tablet system) which is currently used on that track will be completely removed. The colour signal system that will be installed on this road is technologically superior to all the colour signal systems currently in use in this country.’
Accordingly, the tablet system, which has been in existence on the Northern route since the British era, will be completely removed from use.
The construction of a concrete drain which will be under the rail tracks
Under this modernisation, Ambanpola, Galgamuwa, Senaratgama, Tambuttegama, Talawa and Sravastripura railway stations and the two sub-stations of Randenigama and Anuradhapura New Town will also undergo complete modernisation. Also, work is being done to build railway platforms on loop lines at Ambanpola, Tambuttegama and Talawa railway stations.
Transfer
It will be 350 metres long. Accordingly, two trains with 17 carriages of 65 feet length can transfer at Ambanpola, Galgamuwa, Senaratgama, Tambuttegama, Talawa and Shavastri Pura stations.
Also, according to the new signalling system, the location of a train can be easily seen and it will not be necessary to apply the speed of the train to receive the ‘tablet’ signal at non-stop stations for express trains.
An amount of Rs.4,500 million has already been allocated under the Indian loan assistance for the complete modernisation of the railway colour signaling system. After the construction of this track, the travel time of the inter-city express train running from Colombo to Jaffna will be reduced by 1 ½ hours and the travel time of other express trains including Yaldevi will be reduced by 2 hours.
Removal of the old tracks from Anuradhapura to Mahawa
It will go down in history as the most efficient train run in the history of the country’s railways. Accordingly, after the completion of the road improvement works, the running time of the Northern trains will be reduced by 1 hour 30 minutes for the inter-city express train and 2 hours for other trains including Yaldevi.
The Indian Ircon Company says that after the complete renovation of the northern railway lines, there will be no need to redevelop the line again for about 50 years. It will be a big help in regular track maintenance as well as occasional train derailments.
This renovation of the Northern Railway has many advantages for the commuters. It will be possible to meet the needs of the people of the North as well as bring the products of the North to the South. It is a great base for the transportation of goods and petroleum. It will link the hearts and minds of Northerners and Southerners.
