Wednesday, 21 May 2014 00:00
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Frustrated commuters have decided to take matters into their own hands and attack train drivers, resulting in a tense situation in Alawwa on Tuesday. As many as 15 trains were reported to have been delayed after the Mahawa-Colombo office train was delayed.
Delayed trains, faulty equipment and uncaring officials have become part of a negative spiral. Attacks on train drivers come after two trains collided with each other earlier this month. The situation is likely to worsen with driver unions threatening to go on strike or start a work-to-rule campaign, pointing out that top officials have absolved blame to those lower on the power ladder. A claim that has a familiar ring of truth to it.
In early 2010, the Government launched a 10-year Railway Development Strategy to bring the Railway back to satisfactory condition. It started by ordering new Diesel-Multiple Units (DMUs) to replace the current trains. In 2010-2012, the Railway upgraded the track on the southern line, which was damaged in the 2004 tsunami. The track was upgraded to handle trains at 100 km/h, allowing for shorter journey times. It is also currently rebuilding the northern line and is also extending the southern line from Matara to Kataragama, with the intention of ending up in Hambantota.
Yet many of the key problems have remained, dominated by Victorian-era infrastructure and ageing equipment. A substantial amount of expenditure goes to rehabilitating poorly-maintained assets, as opposed to regular maintenance. In addition, the Railway Department is chronically in debt. In fact according to some records the Department last made a profit in 1943 and continues to chug billions into the red every year.
Politicisation of the service also means little or no training, few incentives and low productivity. Corruption has also become endemic in the railways, much like everywhere else, with many complaints being made of substandard or unsuitable equipment being imported for fat commissions.
Trade unions weighing in on the latest accidents have outlined three points and reason the entire Railway Department is to blame for the latest collision. They charge the train, which was recently imported from India, had faulty brakes. In fact all 20 of the S11 engines had faulty brakes and this fact was told to Railway authorities who, according to unions, chose to ignore it. They have pointed out that a S11 was involved in a previous accident in Alawwa as well. The second point is the non-appointment of deputy drivers who could assist in safety checks. The third cause is the ancient track itself that, officials insist, was not maintained properly.
Most other countries deal with safety issues by appointing a Safety Commission, which is given powers to monitor, evaluate and maintain railway safety. If used effectively, this can protect commuters while not becoming yet another burdensome layer of bureaucracy, but Sri Lanka’s track record does not inspire confidence.
About 1,500 people joined in the protest at Alawwa, showing long-pent-up grudges against the Railway Department. While it is true that officials at the bottom of the hierarchy should not be held responsible, the inefficiency at the top will likely still be vented on them. Moreover, services such as railway maintained on public taxes trigger anger when the public they are meant to serve are treated shabbily.
Long-ignored, the Railway Department is now at a crisis point, but thousands of commuters still expect services that the Government is bound to provide.
