Northern Line (Sri Lanka)

Northern Line
An intercity train at Kurunegala station
Overview
System	Sri Lanka Railways
Status	Operational
Locale	Sri Lanka
Termini	Polgahawela Junction Kankesanthurai
Stations	55
Line number	4
Operation
Opened	14 February 1894
Owner	Sri Lanka Railways
Operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Technical
Line length	339 km (211 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Loading gauge	1676
Electrification	No
Route map Northern Line Legend Kankesanthurai Maviddapuram Tellippalai Mallakam Chunnakam Inuvil Kondavil Kokuvil Jaffna Punkankulam Uppu Aru Lagoon Navatkuly Thachanthoppu Chavakachcheri Sankathanai Meesalai Kodikamamam Mirusuvil Eluthumadduval Pallai Elephant Pass Chundikkulam Lagoon Paranthan Kilinochchi Murukandy Temple Murukandy Mankulam Puliyankulam Omanthai Thandikulam Vavuniya Iratperiyakulam Punewa Mannar Line to Talaimannar Medawachchiya Junction Medawachchiya Medagama Parasangahawewa Saliyapura Mihintale Branch Line to Mihintale Mihintale Junction Anuradhapura Anuradhapura New Town Malvathu River Sravasthipura Talawa Thambuttegama Senarathgama Galgamuwa Ambanpola Randenigama Maho Batticaloa Line to Batticaloa Maho Junction Thimbiriyagedara Nagollagama Hiriyala Ganewatta Wellawa Mutttettugalla Kurunegala Nailiya Pothuhera Thallawattegedara Girambe Main Line to Badulla Polgahawela Junction Main Line to Colombo Fort

The Northern Line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Main Line at Polgahawela Junction the line heads north through North Western, North Central and Northern provinces before terminating at the northern port of Kankesanthurai. The line is 339 kilometres (211 mi) long and has 55 stations between Polgahawela Junction and Vavuniya.^[1] It is the longest railway line in Sri Lanka.^[1] The line opened in 1894. Major cities served by the line include Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Jaffna. The popular Yal Devi service operates on the line. The line was severely affected by the civil war and no services operated north of Vavuniya after 1990. Reconstruction of this section of the line commenced following the end of the civil war in 2009 and was fully completed in early 2015.

History

Construction

The Jaffna Railway Commission report published in 1891 recommended the construction of a new railway line (now known as the Northern Line) from Polgahawela to Kurunegala and a survey of a line to Jaffna. The line would join the Main Line at Polgahawela Junction, allowing trains to run to the capital Colombo. Approval was given in 1892 and the new line to Kurunegala opened on 14 February 1894. Approval was given in December 1897 for the construction of the Northern Railway and an announcement was made in the Legislative Council in October 1899 that authorisation had been given for the construction of a railway line connecting the north with Colombo.^[2]

Tenders for the construction of railway line from Kurunegala to Kankesanthurai were called in January 1900 and construction of the new line started at Kurunegala in April 1900.^[2] Construction of the 21 miles (34 km) Kankesanthurai-Chavakacheri section, including Jaffna, began in July 1900. This section was officially opened by Governor Sir J. W. Ridgeway on 11 March 1902.^[2][3] The 14 miles (23 km) Chavakacheri-Pallai section was opened on 5 September 1902. The Northern Railway line up to Anuradhapura was opened on 1 November 1904 and the construction of the line up to Medawachchiya was completed on 11 March 1905.^[2] The construction of the line was completed in the next few months and on 1 August 1905, the first train from Colombo arrived at Jaffna Railway Station.^[2][4] The journey took 13 hours and 20 minutes. The single track line between Kankesanthurai and Vavuniya had 16 stations and 12 sub-stations.

Operational height

An express train called Yarl Devi was introduced on the Northern Line on 23 April 1956, cutting the journey time between Jaffna and Colombo to 7 hours.^[4][5] The service flourished and Jaffna became the second largest station in the country.^[6] The Yarl Devi service was the largest revenue earner for Sri Lanka Railways.^[7] Eight passenger trains and six freight trains operated daily between Jaffna and Colombo. By the early 1980s six thousand people travelled daily on the Northern Line.

War and partial closure

The remains of Jaffna station after the war

The line's fortunes waned when the civil war started in 1983 - the government increased the number of soldiers stationed in the north, many of whom used the line to return to their homes in the south.^[8] Thus the Yarl Devi service became a target for Tamil militants as it passed through areas they controlled.^[9] It was blown up by Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization cadres near Murikandy, Mullaitivu District on the night of 19 January 1985, killing 34 people including 22 soldiers and destroying the tracks.^[4][10][11] The service was attacked again on 25 March 1986 between Puliyankulam and Vavuniya.^[12] The railway tracks were relaid by the Indian Peace Keeping Force and in August 1987 the Jaffna-Colombo rail services resumed.^[13] However, the deteriorating security meant that only a few people used the service. After the IPKF withdrew from Sri Lanka in 1990 the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam took over most of the territory the IPKF had controlled, including Jaffna. In the middle of 1990 the truce between the LTTE and Sri Lankan government broke down and full scale war erupted. Intense fighting took place in and around Jaffna as the Sri Lankan military tried to regain control of the area. Hundreds of civilians fleeing the fighting took refuge in Jaffna Railway Station. The station was bombed by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on 9 August 1990, damaging 6 train carriages and killing eight people nearby.^[14][15] The station was bombed to a shell by the SLAF.^[16] On 13 June 1990 the Yarl Devi service rolled into Jaffna but it could not return to Colombo as the railway track had been destroyed (it would be the last rail service into Jaffna). The station was bombed again on 16 August 1990.^[14][15] In the next few years the entire track between Kankesanthurai and Vavuniya and abandoned railway coaches were removed by the Sri Lankan military and Tamil rebels for use as bunkers.^[17]

Reconstruction

Jaffna station during reconstruction

The Sri Lankan government regained control of most the Jaffna Peninsula, including Jaffna, in 1995 but no effort was made to rebuild the Northern Line or the stations along it. Following the end of the civil war in May 2009 the government initiated various projects to rebuild the Northern Line from Vavuniya to Kankesanthurai. The line between Vavuniya and Omanthai was rebuilt by the Sri Lankan military. Thandikulam railway station was re-opened on 6 June 2009 and Omanthai railway station was re-opened on 27 May 2011.^[18][19]

The contract to reconstruct the 96 kilometres (60 mi) line between Omanthai and Pallai was awarded to IRCON International, the Indian state-owned engineering and construction company.^[20] The project was to cost US$ 185 million and would be financed by a soft loan from the Indian government.^[20][21] In June 2011 an agreement was signed between Sri Lanka Railways and the Bank of Ceylon for the reconstruction of Jaffna Railway Station.^[22] The project was to cost LKR 89 million. In July 2011 it was announced that IRCON had also been awarded the contract to reconstruct the 56 kilometres (35 mi) line between Pallai and Kankesanthurai.^[23] The project was to cost US$ 150 million and would be financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of India.^[23][24] The reconstruction of the entire Northern Line had been expected to be completed by the end of 2013.^[25][26]

The line between Omanthai and Kilinochchi was re-opened on 14 September 2013.^[27][28] The line between Kilinochchi and Pallai was re-opened on 4 March 2014.^[29][30] The line between Pallai and Jaffna was re-opened on 13 October 2014.^[9][31][32] The final stretch of the line, between Jaffna and Kankesanthurai, was re-opened on 2 January 2015.^[33][34]

Route description

Kurunegala is a major station on the line

A train waiting at a station on the Northern Line

Semaphore signals at Maho junction

The Northern Line consists of a main line running from Polgahawela to Kankesanturai and a short branch line to Mihintale. The route serves as a backbone for the country's rail services with other lines branching out from it. The Batticaloa Line and the Mannar Line branch off from the Northern Line at Mahawa (Maho) and Medawachchiya, respectively, to serve Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mannar, and Talaimannar. The route mainly runs through open country, across the North Central plains. At Elephant Pass, it crosses the lagoon to enter the Jaffna peninsula.

Services

The Northern Line is mainly served by intercity trains connecting major cities. More than a dozen trains run on the line in each direction each day.^[35] Major named services that use the line include Yal Devi and Udaya Devi.

Operators and service providers

Sri Lanka Railways operates passenger services on the Northern Line, the most notable service on the line being the Yal Devi. ExpoRail operates a premium service on certain Sri Lanka Railways trains on the Northern Line, in partnership with Sri Lanka Railways.^[36]

Infrastructure

The Northern Line is entirely single track, except at stations. Track gauge is 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge.^[37] As train frequency increases, it is becoming increasingly challenging to operate trains running both direction on the single-line track. The stretch between Polgahawela and Maho is 70 km long, but only has five stations with the facility to let trains pass each other. To relieve this, SLR is planning to add a second line to dual track this portion of the line. As of June 2012, the feasibility study on this project had yet to begin.^[38]

The Northern Line is not electrified, regular services run on diesel power. Current operating speed between Polgahawela and Omanthai is 80 km/h. The section from Omanthai to Kankesanturai is being rebuilt with a design speed of 120 km/h, significantly increasing operating speeds.^[39]

Signalling

South of Anuradhapura, the line currently operates on a lock-and-block signaling system.^[37] In 2011, the railways began a project to add electronic signalling to the rail lines in the north. The Northern Line between Anuradhapura and Kankesanturai would be given electronic signalling with centralized traffic control, interlocking colour light system with electrically operated points, and track detection system. Level crossings would also be connected to the signalling system, thus ensuring safety at crossings.^[40]

References

1. "Statistics - Sri Lanka Railways". Ministry of Transport (Sri Lanka).
2. Martyn, John H. (1923). Notes on Jaffna - Chronological, Historical, Biographical. Tellippalai: American Ceylon Mission Press. ISBN 81-206-1670-7.
3. "The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka: Past and Present". Infolanka.com.
4. "History of Yal Devi - the princess of Jaffna". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
5. Perera, B. B. (23 July 2008). "Rampala regime in the local Railway History". The Island (Sri Lanka).
6. Peiris, Gratian A. (16 November 2010). "B D Rampala : Engineer, entrepreneur and legend". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
7. Mathes, Rohan (24 March 2009). "President requests patriotic citizens: Join us in building Northern rail track". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
8. Palipane, Jayampathi (13 October 2014). "Train Service Back in Former Sri Lankan War Zone". ABC News. Associated Press.
9. "Sri Lanka's Colombo-Jaffna railway reopens". BBC News. 13 October 2014.
10. Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 32: Limbo between war and peace". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story.
11. Sri Kantha, Sachi. "Civil War Leader for Tamils". The Pirabhakaran Phenomenon.
12. "Princess to reign the northern rails again". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 April 2009.
13. Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story.
14. "Special Report No. 1: Bombing in Jaffna". University Teachers for Human Rights.
15. "Jaffna Railway Station: Emerging From The Ashes". The Sunday Leader. 15 January 2012.
16. Srinivasan, Meera (7 October 2014). "India puts Jaffna train back on rails". The Hindu.
17. Colombage, Dinouk (13 October 2014). "In Pictures: Sri Lanka opens Tamil rail ties". Al Jazeera.
18. Ranasinghe, Shiran (30 May 2009). "Northern train to extend to Thandikulam". The Island (Sri Lanka).
19. "Thandikulam to Omanthai railway operational". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 27 May 2011.
20. "Omanthai, Palai railway line construction in progress". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 29 November 2011.
21. Bhattacharjya, Satarupa (17 January 2010). "Indian Railways makes a beeline for the Lankan tracks". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
22. "Jaffna railway station to be re-built". Daily FT. 25 June 2011.
23. "India’s IRCON gets Pallai to KKS $ 150 m rail deal". Daily FT. 16 July 2011.
24. "Pallai-Kankesanthurai rail track to be restored with Indian aid". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 November 2011.
25. Wijewardena, Don Asoka (18 November 2011). "‘Yal Devi’ again in two years". The Island (Sri Lanka).
26. Jayasekera, Sandun A. (18 November 2011). "Yal Devi to reach KKS by 2013". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
27. "'Yal Devi' reaches Kilinochchi". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 14 September 2013.
28. "Train service up to Sri Lanka's former rebel capital resumes after 23 years". Colombo Page. 14 September 2013.
29. "Yal Devi off to Palai". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 4 March 2014.
30. Mendis, B. D. Jude (4 March 2014). "New extended Northern Railway Line opens (Photos)". News First.
31. Victor, Anucyia (13 October 2014). "Back on track! The Queen of Jaffna train rides again along 250-mile route 24 years after it was suspended during Sri Lankan civil war". Mail Online.
32. Wamanan, Arthur (13 October 2014). "Yal Devi recommences operations to Jaffna". The Nation (Sri Lanka).
33. Balachandran, P. K. (3 January 2015). "Busy Rajapaksa Skips Maiden Run on India-built Jaffna Track". The New Indian Express.
34. Pradeep, Chaturanga (2 January 2015). "Yal Devi to KKS from today". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
35. "Train Schedule". Government Information Centre. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
36. "Luxury Rail". Lanka Business Today. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
37. Perera, B. B. (23 July 2008). "Rampala regime in the local Railway History". The Island (Sri Lanka).
38. "Sri Lanka to construct dual track railway line from Polgahawela to Maho". ColomboPage. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
39. "Future Plans". Sri Lanka Railways. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
40. "Agreement for supply and installation of Signaling & Telecommunication system for Northern railway network". Asian Tribune. 18 August 2011.

External links