The Sri Lanka Railways Engine Drivers’ Union has condemned recent accusations against train engine drivers following the deaths of elephants in collisions with trains.
A representative of the Union stated that some environmentalists and activists have made claims without thoroughly investigating the causes of these incidents.
The Union explained that heavy-weight trains, particularly those transporting goods and fuel from areas with elephants, such as Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Gal-Oya, have been restricted to nighttime travel.
The recent deaths of several elephants occurred after colliding with one of these night trains.
To improve safety, the Union has implemented measures to ensure extra precautions when passing through elephant-prone areas like Gal-Oya to Maha-Oya, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa.
The representative outlined three key factors contributing to elephant-train collisions: the weight of the train, the speed of the train, and the layout of the area.
He emphasized that preventing these factors, especially the train’s speed, is not feasible.
He also suggested that providing instant information to train engine drivers about the presence of elephants near tracks could help prevent such incidents.
The Union stressed the need for a scientific solution involving all stakeholders to address the issue.
The remarks followed a tragic incident last week when six elephants were killed after being struck by the Meena Gaya train between Gal Oya and Minneriya, causing the train to derail.
This incident occurred on the Batticaloa railway line, resulting in significant delays in train services. The Union has warned that it will withdraw from operating night trains if an unfair solution is reached due to public pressure.
