Yal Devi start services

President Mahinda Rajapaksa re-launched the 'Yal Devi' rail service at Omanthai this morning dated 14/09/2013. Railway services on the north bound route resumed after 23 years from Omanthai to Kilinochchi. President Mahinda Rajapaksa travel on the train as its first VIP Passenger.

Sri Lanka Railways will operate three trains to Kilinochchi daily commencing Sunday. A spokesman said this will include the Yal Devi which operated up to Omanthai earlier, and the Deyata Kirula intercity train which ran up to Medawachchiya earlier and the night mail train from Colombo.

According to the schedule, the Yal Devi will leave Colombo Fort at 5.45 am and reach the Kilinochchi station at 10.35pm. The Deyata Kirula intercity train will leave the Colombo Fort station at 6.50 am and reach the Kilinochchi station at 11.48 pm. The night mail train will leave the Colombo Fort station at 10.15pm and arrive at Kilinochchi at 4.10am (next day).

In the return journey, the Yal Devi will leave the Kilinochchi station at 6 am and arrive at the Colombo Fort station at 1pm. The Deyata Kirula intercity train will leave Kilinochchi at 2.18 pm and reach Colombo Fort at 7.16pm. Meanwhile, the night mail train will leave the Kilinochchi station at 8.30 pm and arrive at Colombo Fort at 4.40 am (next day).

The spokesman said the Yal Devi train service was suspended for nearly 25 years due to LTTE activities. It’s resumed operations from 14/09/2013 Sunday. The re-construction of the northern railway line and return of the Yal Devi express train to Kilinochchi will not only see the resumption of the normal train services to the North after 23 years, but, will also symbolize the liberation of the northern people from LTTE terrorism and return of democracy to the north.

The train could travel at a speed of 120 kmh since it has been constructed by IRCON, a Indian Company. A new signaling and telecommunication system for the railway Northern network has been installed with all level crossings interlocked with a new signalling system, to ensure safety.