World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Express train derails on Colombo-Kandy line; all passengers safe
An express service traveling from Peradeniya to Colombo derailed on the recently restored railway corridor after an earthslip blocked the tracks. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The early morning express train departed Peradeniya at 4:40 a.m. bound for Colombo when it encountered the obstruction between Gangoda and Kadigamuwa stations. The derailment resulted from an earthslip that had compromised the track integrity along the newly restored Colombo-Kandy railway line.
According to a Railway Department official, locomotive operator D. A. P. Sendanayake reported that the derailment occurred immediately after the earthslip blocked the rail corridor. The incident prompted a swift response from railway authorities, who attended to the scene to assess damage and restore operations.
The newly restored Colombo-Kandy railway line has been a critical infrastructure project for the region, facilitating commuter and express services between the capital and the central highlands. Railway officials indicated that the earthslip may have been triggered by recent weather conditions affecting the trackside terrain.
No casualties or injuries were sustained in the incident. Railway authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the earthslip and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences on the restored line.