Railway go slow:

Lost working hours will hit economy

By Gamini Warushamana

CGR engine drivers have launched a go slow campaign opposing the strict action taken against those responsible for the recent train accidents.

The trade union action has caused a slowing down of train services and most of the trains were late from the middle of last week.

This will cause massive losses to the economy as a result of lost working hours of employees in the government and private sector. Railway passengers said that they cannot report to office on time as office trains were late everyday. The number of railway passengers increased sharply in recent years as the railway service became popular. Improved infrastructure, improved fleet and comparatively low rates attracted passengers, they said. CGR, General Manager B.A.P. Ariyarathna said that conflicts between trade unions and the irresponsible behaviour and deterioration of discipline among employees were the main cause of the increasing number of train accidents.

He rejected allegations of technical faults of the Indian power sets because there is no engineering evidence to substantiate this claim. Indian locomotives and power sets are built according to RDSO standards of the Indian railway and the massive Indian railway system comprises over 70,000 km rail track with 4,000 daily trains.

If these standards are to be challenged they should substantiate the claim with concrete engineering evidence. There is no issue regarding the breaks in these engines as claimed by trade unions and the data in the black box proved this beyond any doubt, he said.

He said that strict action will be taken against employees responsible for accidents and those who violate the rules and regulations of the Department. The services of several engine drivers, guards and station masters have been suspended until the inquiries of the Pothuhera and Aluthgama train accidents are completed.

Carrying passengers in engines and guard rooms are prohibited but these things happen frequently. Strict action will be taken against the violation of rules in the future. Last week the services of an engine driver was terminated for taking his wife in the engine compartment.

Drivers and guards working under the influence of liquor are also reasons for train accidents. From now onwards, inspections and strict action against such offenders will be taken, he said. Ariyarathne said that there is no cooperation among employees in the various sections and there are conflicts between the trade unions of engine drivers and guards.

As a result recruitment of employees cannot be done to fill the vacancies in the Department and there is a shortage of guards.

The estimated cost of losses to locomotives, compartments, track and the signal system of the Pothuhera train accident is Rs.170 million.