Passengers on the Hikkaduwa–Maradana service faced delays on Wednesday after the train developed repeated technical problems along the coastal line.
The train ran into difficulties while stopping at the Beruwala and Maggona railway stations, disrupting its scheduled journey towards Maradana.
Railway authorities said the fault affected the Hikkaduwa–Maradana service and caused delays for passengers using the coastal line, one of the busiest commuter corridors into Colombo.
No information was released on the nature of the fault, how long the service was held up, or whether replacement rolling stock was arranged. Neither report indicated that passengers were injured or that the line was closed to other traffic.
The coastal line carries a heavy volume of morning commuter traffic into the capital from the southern suburbs and coastal towns, and delays on the route typically affect several following services. Beruwala and Maggona, where the train ran into trouble, lie in the Kalutara district roughly midway between Hikkaduwa and Colombo.
Sri Lanka Railways has faced recurring reliability problems on its ageing diesel fleet, with rolling stock shortages and breakdowns a frequent source of delays on the southern and coastal routes.
Sources: Technical fault delays Hikkaduwa–Maradana train — Ada Derana, August 12; Hikkaduwa–Maradana train delayed after repeated technical issues — Daily Mirror, August 12.
