The Sri Lanka Railways will take a giant leap forward by introducing an electric train service by 2020, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told a technical workshop at the Taj Samudra Hotel yesterday in connection with the inauguration of electric train services.
The workshop was attended by various parties involved in the sphere.The ADB agreed to fund the project under a concessionary loan scheme.
During the first stage of the programme, the electric train service would be introduced on the Veyangoda - Polgahawela, Ragama - Negombo lines and Maradana to Homagama on the Kelani Valley Line.
This would involve the modernisation of rail roads to enable the running of trains at a speed of 100 km per hour, introduction of a signal system and an automatic security brake system.
There would be three railway lines from Colombo Fort to Panadura, four lines from Maradana to Ragama and two lines from Maradana to Homaganma to facilitate the programme.
This would eliminate overcrowding in trains. Project planning will commence in 2017 to enable the launching of construction work by December 2017.