Local railway bridges and culverts cannot withstand the 120-tonne M-11 engine imported under Indian credit, Railway Trade Union Coalition Co-convenor S.P. Vithanage said.
He said normal railway engines were equipped with both, vacuum and air breaks, enabling the driver to face any emergency situation—especially along a hilly gradient. But since the M-11 engine is only equipped with air breaks, the driver cannot easily stop the engine in an emergency.
As such, the new engine increases the possibility of a danger due to the lack of vacuum breaks, he added.
Railway engines operating in Sri Lanka should have 2,500 horse power, but the new engine has 3,500 horse power and a length of 75 feet, Vithanage said.
He said rails in Sri Lanka have been built to withstand a payload of 80 to 90 pounds (lbs). Railway technologists had pointed out that railway bridges could withstand an axle load of 18.5 tonnes.
Since railway bridges in Sri Lanka have been fixed with nuts and bolts, they could not be tightened if they were to loosen. As all bridges on the Northern line built with Indian aid were welded bridges, they might crack after sometime due to the engine’s weight, Vithanage added.
He said an engine more suitable for Sri Lanka could be purchased for a sum between Rs.300 million and Rs.320 million.
Moreover, only compartments of Chinese-make could be coupled to the M-11 engine costing Rs.750 million, he said, adding that Romanian compartments could not be fixed to it, according to Railway employees.
The M-11 engine cannot be transferred to other lines from railway points fixed near railway stations other than the Maligawatta, Maradana, Polgahawela, Jaffna, Kankesanturai, and Fort railway stations, he said.
Vithanage said the integrity of railway lines and bridges could be safeguarded if authorities were to drop their plans to import another M-11 engine. They should import more suitable engines from elsewhere instead, he added.
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