The Inter City Express (ICE)
After long time, I traveled by the infamous (http://www.slrfc.org/2009/07/20/the-2001-kandy-ice-disaster-a-look-back) Intercity Express to Colombo and return (from Peradeniya). On my return, after passing Rambukkana, I happened to spend some time sight seeing and couldn’t avoid noticing the sign boards, intended for the engine driver (I suppose). Most of the signs read “15 MPH” (yes, apparently, we still use miles per hours in our railway) and with various reasons in the second line such as “Weak Rail”, “Insufficient metal”, etc.
In the age trains traveling at unimaginable speeds, an ICE, for 1/3 of its distance, traveling at 15MPH, what a disaster? I know what most of you are thinking, welcome to Sri Lanka, a land like no other! Seriously, we should improve our railway system starting from our railway network, trains and most importantly, the railway stations.
On a non-related topic, our road network is far better than it was like 10 (or even 5) years ago. But, the trains, hmmmm……!
yes sir that is exactly correct. Because of these weakness we experience lot of railway accidents also.
Yes Jeewan, true.
Prof. Niranjan’s diary talks about the same issue briefly: http://www.groundviews.org/2010/01/07/don%E2%80%99s-diary-one-week-in-sri-lanka/
There should be 8 Nails (4 per each side) Should attached to each log. But Observe currently they use two or some times 1 per side