Trains as party venues from January

by Ananda Kannangara

The Railway Department will create history by launching a service which would enable wedding receptions, birthday parties, conferences and other functions to be held inside fully-fledged, air-conditioned trains under a program to be launched next January.

The novel program will be initiated by the Railway Department on the directive of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama to popularise train journeys among people.

As an initial step, two air-conditioned trains will be imported from China during the second week of next month. The trains will be used only to conduct functions and not as passenger transport trains.

The air-conditioned trains will consist three to four carriages and fully-equipped changing rooms, dance floors, sleeping facilities and a buffet with experienced cooks and other staffers to provide hot meals. The travellers will be provided with live music by popular bands during the journey.

Railways Commercial Superintendent, Wijaya Samarasinghe told the Sunday Observer that those who reserve the train for functions could travel to any destination from the Colombo Fort Railway Station.

The guests will be provided with hotels after reaching their destination or spend the night in the train and return to Colombo.

He said the objective of this service is to provide different modes of entertainment to local and foreign visitors, while making an additional income for the Department.