Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated yesterday (19) in the Parliament that the location where a Colombo-bound train derailed along the upcountry line had previously been identified as a hazardous area.

He further noted that train operations on the upcountry line are expected to be completed by tonight (20).

The night mail train that ran from Badulla to Colombo on Tuesday night (18) derailed between the Idalgashinna and Ohiya Railway Stations due to a landslide that brought down a pile of rocks onto the tracks.

The Railways Department stated that, as a result, trains operating from Colombo on the upcountry line have been restricted to Nanu Oya while trains running from Badulla will run only up to the Bandarawela Station.

The train that had commenced its journey from Badulla towards Colombo Fort derailed at around 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The derailment caused severe damage to the front engine of the double-engine train.

However, steps were taken by Railway officials to move the rear engine and passenger carriages to Haputale.

An official at the Nanu Oya Railway Station stated that officials and staff from the disaster management unit at the Nanu Oya Station have been deployed to lift the derailed train engine.

Due to the derailment, the running times of several trains on the upcountry line were altered yesterday morning. Accordingly, the Podi Menike train, which was scheduled to start from Badulla, departed from the Nanu Oya Station at 12.13 p.m. However, the Calypso tourist train running between Badulla, Demodara and Bandarawela continues to operate as usual.