The rail service between Mahawa Junction and Anuradhapura, which had been closed for over nine months, is set to resume, reinforcing linkages between ‘Rajarata’ and Colombo.
The name ‘Yal Devi’, which connects the North and South, will never be forgotten since Lady Yal is so dear to people’s hearts.
Construction work of the northern railway line began on Valentine’s Day, 1894, during British rule. Passenger trains began operating along the route in 1905/1906. There was a night mail train service that took over 12 hours to complete the voyage, but there was a demand for a daytime train, therefore the Yal Devi was launched on April 23, 1956.
It took seven hours and 20 minutes for the Yal Devi to travel from Colombo to Jaffna in 1956. At first it used a Canadian M2 class locomotive imported under the Colombo system, later upgrading in speed after the M4 class locomotives were added in 1975.
The Yal Devi departed Colombo at 5.45am, stopping by Anuradhapura at 9.35am and arriving in Jaffna at 1.00pm.
Services were suspended after 1986 due to terrorist threats. Although the train was limited to Vavuniya, under a 1989 peace agreement, it languished for 24 years from 1990.
Indian Ircon Corporation
On October 13, 2014, the Yal Devi started its trek North again after the railroad was fully resorted by the Indian Ircon Corporation. After Omanthai, all stations up to Kankesanturai were built by major Sri Lankan banks and businesses.
Despite their contribution, the railway line had several shortcomings from Mahawa to Omanthai.
At that time, it took eight hours for the Yaldevi Express and six and a half hours for the Intercity Express to travel from Colombo to Kankesanturai. Despite the schedule, the journey was delayed by 45 minutes due to the poor condition of the tracks.
Discussions related to a complete restoration between Mahawa junction and Omanthai started under an Indian grant and related activities were coordinated, but it was gradually thrown aside during the Covid-19 pandemic due to other priorities.
Tenders were called in 2019 for the agreement related to the Indian loan scheme and the job to revamp the 128 km Mahawa-Omanthai line was once again given to the Ircon Coporation.
However, no refurbishment happened between 2019 and 2022. Through the intervention of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, the Indian High Commissioner at that time Gopal Bagalay expressed his desire to start work immediately under the Indian loan assistance scheme.
Under Ircon, the 128 km line was completely renovated in two phases.
Reconstruction work ceremonially commenced in Medawachchiya. The cost of the entire project was estimated at US$ 91.27 million. Phase 1 began on January 7, 2023 and the 61.6 km railway line from Anuradhapura to Omanthai was completely closed.
Three stations from Anuradhapura to Omanthai, Parasangahawewa, Medawachchiya, and Vavuniya, and all the sub-stations of Mihintale Junction, Saliyapura, Medagama, Punewa, Iratperiyakulam and Thandikulam were modernised.
After nearly six months of work, the test run was very successful and after that, the train started running again from Colombo to the North. As a result, it was possible to reduce the travel time by about seven and half hours.
Poor condition
Although it was possible to travel at a speed of 100 km per hour from Anuradhapura to Kankesanturai, the speed of the train from Mahava to Anuradhapura was in such a poor condition that it ranged from 5 kmph to 32 kmph. Therefore, the real results of the progress achieved by the complete restoration could not be achieved. After several months, the work on the railway section from Mahava to Anuradhapura, which is the Phase 2, started on January 7 this year.
With the aim of benefiting the public, the Railway Department conducted a Dharma sermon in front of Sri Maha Bodhi. These activities were carried out under the guidance and initiative of the Minister Dr. Gunawardhana, and on January 7, the Mahawa – Anuradhapura railway line restoration work officially started at the Galgamuwa station in the presence of Minister, Dr. Gunawardhana, and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
First Secretary of the office of High Commisioner Irina Thakur, Minister of State for Media Shanta Bandara and other dignitaries attended the ceremony. Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Ranjith Rubasinghe, H.M.K.W. Bandara the former General Manager of Railways and a large number of Government officials, including senior officials of Ports and Railways and Ircon representatives joined the occasion.
So began the complete refurbishment of the entire line from Mahava to Anuradhapura. Specially built Indian special rails were used which are stronger than those generally used in Sri Lanka. Excavations were carried out like any other highway and a new foundation was laid.
Indian experts identified specific requirements after inspecting land and bridge foundations. Although the railway was supposed to be completed by last July, work was delayed because the railroad had to be completed to the required standard and more attention had to be paid to railway crossings and elephant crossings.
A special underpass for elephants was added between Galgamuwa and Talawa. Project director Chinthaka Jayasekara said that although the train can travel at 120 kmph, the recommended speed is 100 kmph.
Five main railway bridges are currently under construction. It will take a considerable amount of time to complete. Our aim is to provide the railway line and gradually carry out the work so that the service can be maintained.
The railway track will be 500 mm (20 inches) higher than the previous track. Therefore, railway stations and crossings were modified accordingly. The department is carrying out work related to railway stations and railway crossings. However, the project will not upgrade the railway stations, that job is for the Railway Department.
Under Phase 2, Ambanpola, Galgamuwa, Senaratgama, Tambuttegama, Talawa and Shravastripura railway stations and Randenigama, Anuradhapura New Town sub-stations were completely renovated.
In particular, it should be said that until now, when changing two trains, the train that came first has been taken back and directed to a loop line, which has been removed for renovations.
Second platforms have also been added at Ambanpola, Tambuttegama and Talawa stations. Therefore, when switching two trains, the two trains can be directed to two tracks with platforms, this cuts down on delays.
Under this project, the length of the railway track was also increased and extended so that even a train with 20 carriages could be parked on that track. Although the train can run at an approved speed of 100 kmph, we have advised engine drivers to speed up gradually.
So we have cautioned the public using the crossings. Last week, a test run reached speeds of 102 kmph on this track with no problem. “
As this train does not have full colour signals, currently the trains are running under two schedules, namely from Mahawa Junction to Senarathgama and from Senarathgama to Anuradhapura.
Safety system
Accordingly, after one train runs from Mahawa, a train will not proceed from Senarathgama and after a train runs from Senarathgama to Anuradhapura, a train will not run from Anuradhapura. It is a temporary safety system and once the signalling system is fully established, trains will be able to run between two main stations.
The line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura will be equipped with full colour signals. At the same time, the hand signal system used on that road (Samapho signal/tablet system) will be completely removed. Also, the colour signals to be installed are technologically superior to all the colour signal systems currently in use in Sri Lanka.
With the new system, the position of a train can be easily detected and it will no longer be necessary to speed the train to catch the ‘tablet’ at stations as express trains do not stop.
Rs. 4.5 billion has already been allocated under Indian loan assistance to completely upgrade to a colour signalling system.
Due to this upgrade, it will be possible to travel from Colombo to Anuradhapura in less than three hours. The travel time of the Intercity Express from Colombo to Jaffna will be reduced by one and half hours and the travel time of other express trains including the Yal Devi will be reduced by about two hours. It will go down as the most efficient train in the history of railways.
Trains are a safe, cheap and comfortable way of travelling between North and South.
Needs of Northerners
Also, by being able to travel to Colombo quickly, it will be possible to quickly fulfil the needs of Northerners, and it will be possible to bring goods such as fuel oil from the North to the capital. If the proposed work on the Kankesanturai cement plant is restarted, its products will also be able to be brought to Colombo quickly.
Since Palaly Airport has been upgraded to international level, the ability to connect rail and air services at Palaly as a profitable means of transportation for air travellers will be a big boost to the economy. Above all, it will be a big support for the North-South reconciliation.
Translated by Jonathan Frank
