The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA) has raised safety concerns over moves to resume train operations on the Talaimannar railway line without first restoring the line’s signalling system.
According to Ada Derana, the association said steps have been taken to resume services on the Talaimannar line — which had remained closed for several months — on the instructions of the Minister, but that this was being done before the railway signalling system had been reinstated.
Station masters warned that operating trains without a functioning signalling system could compromise safety on the route, as signalling is central to controlling train movements and preventing collisions. The association called for the necessary systems to be restored before regular services are rolled out on the line.
The Talaimannar line, running through Mannar in the island’s northwest, is part of the Northern rail network and has historically connected the region to the ferry link with India. Sections of the line have undergone repeated repair and rehabilitation over the years.
Railway trade unions and professional associations have frequently flagged infrastructure gaps on rehabilitated lines, urging authorities not to prioritise reopening dates over technical readiness. The department had not issued a detailed response to the association’s concerns at the time of reporting.
