Rail services on the Northern Line were disrupted on Saturday after the night mail train travelling from Colombo to Jaffna derailed, NewsFirst reported.
The derailment left carriages off the track and forced the suspension of normal running on the line while Railway Department engineers and emergency crews worked to clear the obstruction. Officials said efforts were under way to rerail the affected coaches and assess damage to the track.
The cause of the derailment was not immediately established, and railway authorities said an investigation would be carried out. Passengers on the affected service were assisted, and the department moved to arrange alternative transport and reschedule connecting trains along the route.
The Northern Line is one of Sri Lanka’s busiest long-distance corridors, linking Colombo with Jaffna and the far north, and disruptions typically affect commuters, traders and long-distance travellers relying on the overnight service.
The Railway Department urged passengers to check on the status of Northern Line services before travelling and said updates would be issued as restoration work progressed. Services were expected to be restored once the track was cleared and declared safe for operation.
