Rail gates to be installed soon at unprotected level crossings

By Lakshme Parasuraman

The Transport Ministry will set up rail gates at unprotected level crossings islandwide to minimise the rising number of railway accidents, the General Manager of Railways, B.P.D. Ariyaratna said.

The need for such a measure arose after the accident at the Ganegama-Aluthgama railway level-crossing in which 6 people were killed last week. A van carrying Poson pilgrims collided with a train at Hikkaduwa which resulted in six deaths last week.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama has instructed the Railway Authorities to set up road bumps near level-crossing to thwart speeding motorists.

The Railway department has launched a two-year project to install railway gates at unprotected level crossing. A sum of 620 million rupees had been provided for this purpose.

We cannot just buy things in the market and fix it but we have to make a gate to conform to international standard, Ariyaratne said.

Accidents at railway crossings occur due mainly to motorists racing through the crossings or the drivers failing to see the oncoming train. There were 66 accidents in 2009 and 75 in 2010 and 82 in 2011.

According to the General Manager of Railways (GMR) until the railway gates are installed the Transport Ministry will launch an awareness to caution the motorists to exercise utmost care in driving across level-crossings.

Road bumps are being constructed at a selected 50 level-crossing. The Transport Ministry also plans to install two feet long mirrors along both sides so that the train could be seen in advance.

The Railway department has taken legal action to remove unauthorised structures which obstruct the visibility of oncoming trains.

There are 1,083 level crossings island wide according to Railway Dept. Among them 457 are protected and pose no danger to the public.Although there are 149 bamboo gates, they are regarded as unprotected. Altogether 775 railway crossings remain unprotected and 371 levels crossings will be installed with safety mechanisms, he added.

To speed up the project to install gates at unprotected level crossings tenders will be awarded local and foreign companies.

Already 45 tenders have awarded for bell and lights gates, and we hope 25 will be completed within one month and we expect to award 30 more tenders locally, he said. We will seek Cabinet approval to call for tenders for 200 more railway crossings.

The Department will also buy spare parts from different countries to install 50 gates and the remaining 46 gates to be installed under a foreign loan.

We hope to complete the project to install gates at main level crossings by the end of 2015. So that accidents at railway level crossings could be averted.