Yal Devi start service to Jaffna

The Yal Devi train resumed services to Jaffna after a lapse of 24 years. President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially inaugurated the service today 13/10/2014.

The famous North-bound train Yal Devi, which is currently running between Colombo and Palai, will be extended to Jaffna from tomorrow at a function which will be graced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The project to rebuild the tracks and necessary facilities have been undertaken by IRCON International Limited under a concessionary credit line of US$ 800 million provided by the Indian Government for the Northern Railway Reconstruction Project.

Accordingly, Yal Devi will leave for Jaffna on October 13 passing 38 kilo meters from Pallai station. Meanwhile, the Jaffna Railway Station has been reconstructed, and renovated with the assistance of Bank of Ceylon. The railway station will feature many modern facilities. Efforts have been taken to preserve its ancestral architecture. The tracks will have novel signaling facilities while the line will have a sound telecommunication system.
The first section of the re-constructed 63-kilometer-railway track from Omanthai to Kilinochchi of the 146-kilometer Northern Railway Line was opened for train travel on 14 September 2013. The extension was offered to Palai on March 4, 2014. The train recommenced only in June 2009, just after the tiger rebels were defeated, with the train running to Thandikulam and then to Omanthai on May 29, 2011. (DPL)

The line includes three main rail bridges, including the longest bridge at Navatkuli and four crossing stations between Palai and Jaffna located in Kodikamam, Chavakachcheri  and  Navatkuli.