After 24 years, the “Yaazh Devi express train travelled from Palai to Jaffna yesterday on the recently-restored northern railway line. The express train made a test run from Pallai to the newly constructed Jaffna Railway Station on Monday prior to resuming services next month after a 24-year gap. The train left Palai at 10:30 a.m. and arrived at Jaffna at 11:30 a.m., passing four main railway stations and six train stops.

Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri joined the pilot ride. Test runs along the new Colombo – Jaffna railway track using other trains have been conducted over the past few days.

The train service along the northern line was restricted to Vavuniya in 1990 due to the war between the LTTE and the army. The Northern Railway Line from Vavuniya to Kankasanthurai in the northernmost tip of the island was completely destroyed by the LTTE during their reign. The rebels uprooted the rail tracks to build reinforced underground bunkers.

The rail line is being reconstructed in stages by the India Railway Construction International Ltd. (IRCON) with the financial and technical assistance from India.

The ‘Yaazh Devi’ had been operating till Kilinochchi since last year and will resume its services to Jaffna once the railway station damaged during the war is open next month with the completion of the reconstruction work.

The reconstructed Colombo – Jaffna, Northern Railway Line up to Jaffna is expected to be completed by end of September.

After the war ended in May 2009, the Yaaazh Devi recommenced operations to Thandikulam on June 6, 2009 and then extended its run to Omanthai on May 29 of 2011. It commenced services to Kilinochchi in September 2013 and extended the service to Pallai in March this year.

The ‘Yaazh Devi’ express train between Jaffna and Colombo set to resume next month after 24 years.

(Compiled from News Reports in Colombo newspapers and web sites)