Railway authority to install collision prevention systems at 13 elephant hotspots

Sri Lanka Railways is rolling out advanced collision prevention systems across 13 strategic locations identified as elephant crossing zones, marking a significant step toward reducing train-wildlife incidents on the island's rail network.

The initiative addresses a persistent safety challenge faced by both railway operations and elephant populations, particularly in areas where rail corridors intersect with elephant migration routes and habitats. These high-risk locations have been identified based on historical data tracking train-elephant encounters and related accidents.

The new systems are designed to detect approaching elephants and alert train operators, enabling them to reduce speed or halt operations before collisions occur. The technology deployment represents a coordinated effort to protect both passengers and the country's endangered elephant population from potentially fatal encounters.

Railway officials have indicated that the selected 13 locations represent priority zones where intervention is most critical. The implementation of these systems is expected to substantially decrease accident rates at these vulnerable points along the rail network while supporting broader wildlife conservation objectives in Sri Lanka.

The initiative reflects growing recognition of the need for technological solutions to manage human-wildlife conflict in regions where transportation infrastructure and natural habitats overlap.