Mr. D.K.L. P Kumara, Project Director of Sri Lanka Railways, Mr. T.G.D.T Dharmawardana, AGM/Projects of CECB and Mr. S.L Gupta, Project Director of Ircon International Limited, along with other officers from Sri Lanka Railway, CECB and IRCON undertook the trial run, which commenced from Madhu Road station and ended at the Talai Mannar Pier Station.
Mr M.Y.S.Deshpriya GA of Mannar and Mr Chandana Alahakoon , SSP of Mannar, along with their officials also joined the trial run.
The officials who went on the trial run said it was successful with comfortable riding quality. The train took less than 50 minutes to complete 63 kms of track, with a maximum speed of 90 Kmph.
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During the trial run, many local people were seen cheering the train. Considerable excitement and enthusiasm was displayed by the public regarding the commencement of train services after such a long gap of more than 25 years.
The inauguration ceremony to be held at Talai Mannar Pier station, will be attended by the Hon. Minister of Internal Transport, Mr. Ranjit Madduma Bandara and the Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr. Rishad Bathiudeen.
The reconstructed track of 63 kms is the last segment of the 265 Km long prestigious Northern Railway Line Reconstruction Project which is being executed by Ircon International Limited, a Government of India owned Company under Indian lines of credit .
This section has five crossing stations at Murukan, Mannar, Pesalai, Talai Mannar and Talai Mannar Pier, along with three halt stations at Mathotham, Thiruketheeswaram and Thoddaveli.
Pictured : Mr S.L. Gupta – Project Director/ IRCON and other officials of IRCON and CECB at the Talai Mannar station after the trial run and the train on the new track during the trial run .
