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Train fares increased

25 Mar 2022

  • Hike for reserved seats on inter-city express and special long distance trains 
  • Station Masters oppose move, demand immediate withdrawal
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Railways Department has increased the reserved seat fares on inter-city express trains and long distance special trains running on the Northern and main railway lines with effect from Wednesday (23). According to a statement issued by the Railways General Manager (Commercial), the fares for first class reserved seats on the trains running on the main line have been increased with rates varying from Rs. 400 to Rs. 800, second class fares’ rates varying from Rs. 250 to Rs. 500 and third class fares’ rates varying from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300. The fare for first class reserved seats for trains running on the Northern railway line has been increased by Rs. 300, while second class seats’ rates vary from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 and third class seats’ rates vary from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500. Last (24) evening, it was reported that Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama had instructed the Railway Department to suspend the fare hike with immediate effect.  However, when contacted, a Railways Department official said that as of last evening, the hiked fares were in effect. Meanwhile, expressing their opposition to the said fare increase, the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Union (SLRSMU) has demanded that the Department's decision be withdrawn immediately. Speaking to The Morning, SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara said that the Department had increased the fares without any prior notice. He further said that it has been done in an arbitrary manner by the authorities of the Department, outside the proper procedure. “Some rates have been increased by 50-60%, which should not have happened. This increase in fares is unacceptable, especially at a time when people who use private vehicles are turning to trains in the face of the current fuel crisis. This decision would cause great inconvenience to the commuters. Therefore, we, as the SLRSMU, demand that this hike be withdrawn as soon as possible,” he said. The SLRSMU recently stated that decisions taken by the Government and the Department to increase train fares cannot be approved as there are a number of other ways to increase the revenue of the Department. Chamara said that if the revenue of the Department is to be increased in the face of rising fuel prices, there are a number of steps that can be taken instead of increasing train fares.  Claiming that a monthly income of Rs. 20 million is being earned through the leasing of lands belonging to the Bandarawela Railway Station at present, he stated that, likewise, a large income could be earned by leasing lands belonging to the Department under a proper system.  

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