• Ordinary commuters unable to reserve due to quick sellout
• Tourist guides buy in bulk & sell at high prices
• Railways Dept. to introduce more Upcountry trains 

The recently introduced system for the online reservation of train seats has made it almost impossible for ordinary passengers to make reservations, and certain individuals, particularly tourist service providers, have turned it into a racket, The Daily Morning learns.

A system for the reservation of train seats only through online platforms was implemented by the Department of Railways with effect from 14 March. Under this system, the reservation of seats has been facilitated through the relevant mobile phone networks, a mobile phone application, or the relevant website.

Following the introduction of the system, passengers have however complained on social media platforms that it had become very difficult for them to make reservations through it. Under the system, the reservations can be made within a specific time period, and the passengers had claimed that almost all seats for which early reservations could be made, get reserved within a few seconds.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, sources within the Department said that certain individuals have now turned the newly introduced system into a racket. “It has become so that an ordinary passenger cannot make a reservation through this system. The reason is that certain individuals, mostly tourist guides, make bulk reservations and sell tickets to tourists at high prices. This issue is reflected by the fact that most of the reservations made under this system for trains to Badulla, are made from Kandy, and not from Colombo Fort. An ordinary person would usually reserve a seat on a train running to Badulla from Colombo Fort. However, tourists mostly start their journey to Badulla after visiting Kandy, and that is why reservations are made from Kandy,” the sources said.

The sources further claimed that public servants have also had to face various difficulties when travelling by train using the relevant warrants, due to certain issues of this system. “The public servants were able to visit a railway station and make reservations, but they cannot do it now. There is some technology-related knowledge required to use this system. Most of the public servants and passengers cannot go through the relevant process quickly, but those who use this system to make money do it quickly and get several seats reserved. It is a great injustice to the ordinary passenger.”

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara said that the passengers have had to face difficulties in making seat reservations due to the current supply being insufficient to meet the demand. “The people cannot make reservations since all the seats get reserved within a short period. This issue can only be seen when it comes to the Upcountry Railway Line. As a solution, we plan to introduce new trains with seats that can be reserved,” he said. 

Commenting on the incidents of train tickets being sold at high prices, he said: “When more trains are introduced, no one will be needing to purchase tickets at high prices.”

Prior to the introduction of the system in question, 60% of the available seats could be reserved by visiting the relevant railway stations, and 40% through online systems. The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Union had also informed the Ministry of Transport and Highways and the Department that the issues related to this system should be rectified as soon as possible.