The Railways Department had decided to temporarily suspend several Intercity Express services departing from the Colombo Fort Railway Station, Railways General Manager Dilantha Fernando said.

However, Intercity Express trains will operate on weekends, he said.

He said the decision was taken due to less demand of the commuters and due to spreading of the pandemic situation in the country.

He said only intercity express train services operating on weekdays were suspended.

Accordingly, Intercity Express (1009) operating between Colombo Fort and Kandy, Southern Intercity Express (8054) operating between Maradana and Beliatta, Pulathisi Intercity Express (6076) operating between Colombo Fort and Polonnaruwa, Uttara Devi Intercity Express (Air Conditioned-6075) operating between Colombo Fort and Kankesanthurai had been suspended.

“However, arrangements have been made to operate the above trains on weekends. And as soon as the commuter demand increases, the trains will again operate on weekdays,” he said.

“All compartments are disinfected twice a day and people were requested to follow the health recommendations,” he said.

“Each commuter should wear face masks, should maintain the one-metre distance between other commuters. Commuters must wash their hands before entering the railway station. Avoid spitting and throwing rubbish out from the windows as well as at the stations. Limit the use of public toilets even in the compartments,” the GMR said.

He said this precautionary measure should be implemented to control people using trains and to control the spreading of COVID-19 virus among people.

However, each person would be checked at each train station before getting into the trains.
“No passenger would be allowed inside station without checking their body temperature,” he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)