Railways

[saraprobe]

Originally Posted by AbstractLife_12

These are from www.airportexpress.lk ..... not sure whether they are legit tho

[IMG]http://i50.************/2wbz6ad.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://i50.************/2je5yqe.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://i47.************/13z1f6x.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://i50.************/jzcs4x.jpg[/IMG]

i dont think this project will go ahead ... it looks too good to be true

They shamelessly cut and paste trans American new high speed railway project

[saraprobe]

You guys see these twin towers? OMG thatz bad luck to begin with

[Shakeel]

I wont be buying this project as it sounds unrealistic. A lot of this projects dont ever get off ground as some politicos expect kickbacks and wash it dry.

[AbstractLife_12]

Sunday, 2 September 2012, Sunday Observer

Colombo, which is getting increasingly traffic-clogged and congested, is in dire need of a mass rapid transit system that could help reduce the number of cars on the road. It should be more convenient, faster, cleaner and equally affordable. Several proposals are being pursued and there is greater focus on a monorail project, which does not require (enormously costly) underground tunnelling.

A preliminary meeting was held last month at the Ministry of Transport on the proposed monorail project. Everyone at the meeting agreed that this project was a long-felt need and a realisation of the Mahinda Chinthana pledges on the development of an alternative transport mode. It was discussed at the meeting that the route from the Fort to Battaramulla is appropriate due to factors such as high volume of traffic and the non-existence of a rail track as well as lack of space for further widening of the road network.

In the first stage, the proposed monorail system will operate 10 km. parallel from Fort Station (the proposed City Airport Terminal) to Battaramulla and then in Phase II, 19 km from Moratuwa to Maradana. It will be extended to Kaduwela later. The technical and administrative systems of the Fort Railway Station will be modernised with advanced technology.

Facilitating passengers
In the meantime, the Airport Railway and Colombo Monorail (BIA to Colombo-Airport Express Railway) will be amalgamated and operate simultaneously to facilitate passengers from abroad from the BIA to Colombo and vice versa. Passengers flying abroad will be able to check in baggage at the Fort Railway Station directly.

Government representatives noted that the monorail project will effectively increase the efficiency of the transport system in the country and also increase tourist arrivals. It will also be in line with the recent decision of the Government to introduce a special Act on energy security. Under this Act, it is expected that 10 percent of the total import cost of fuel be reduced by introducing alternative transport modes. A monorail system has been highly recommended in this regard.

The Korean investors of the monorail project were requested to furnish an economic study and EIA on the route and more details on the type of technology that will be provided, because the participants were of the view that the technology must be standard, affordable for maintenance and compatible with any locomotive system in the world, said Leelananda Ihalagamage, a spokesperson for the monorail project.

He said that after signing an MoU with the Moratuwa University, Professor Saman Bandara's services would be engaged for the economic feasibility and other studies along the route. The actual route tracing and basic engineering studies will be done in collaboration with Isuru Engineering, the Civil Engineering Works partner of Garamspace Co. of Korea, the investor of this project.

Kim Jongik, President of Garamspace Co. Ltd./Garamspace Research Institute of Korea and members of the project will visit Sri Lanka early next month, to hold further discussions with ministers and senior officials.

Significant progress
Several participants at the meeting raised the point that the road leading to Sri Jayawardhanapura is used by the Members of Parliament and VVIPs when Parliamentary sessions are in progress. Erecting a monorail over the road on concrete poles in the middle of the road could disturb VIP movements, they said. Therefore, it was suggested that the clearance of the Ministry of Defence is needed and a representative of the Ministry should be called to attend the next meeting. The second issue is, when diverting the rail track at Borella junction towards a new road, it should be considered whether the sharp bend is technically feasible and a possible alternative route should be ear-marked.

The continuous relationship between the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka over the past 30 years has shown significant progress in the investment sector and mutual understanding between the two countries has been immensely developed.

This relationship was further strengthened through President Mahinda Rajapaksa's official visit to Korea recently when he was warmly welcomed by the Korean people.

The Government has taken several measures to develop the infrastructure sector especially the main roads, other access roads and highways after the end of terrorism in 2009. Colombo city, the first stop for tourists and investors, has undergone a vast transformation since then. Developing a metro area is a big risk and a highly technical exercise. Sometimes, it takes three to four years to complete feasibility studies and other related activities. The Government itself cannot invest alone for this purpose.

Way back in 2008, even before the end of the conflict, the GaramSpace Company conducted various studies and discussions with the Ministry of Transport and Sri Lanka Railways on this project, following an invitation to the President of the company by the Ministry of Transport to conduct the feasibility study. The Experts' Group of the project comprises officials from Korea Transport Institution (KOTI), Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI), Busan Transport Corporation (BTC), Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) and other leading Korean private sector companies.

Feasibility study
This project is part of the New Generation Transit System Joint Development Program. It also includes the BIA to Colombo Airport Railway Improvement Project and upgrading the signals and communications system of Sri Lanka Railways based on Korean Technology.Currently, most of the basic studies have been concluded and submitted to the Ministry of Transport. An economic feasibility study, operational study, environment impact assessment and introduction of system engineering through research and development have to be carried out.

As Sri Lanka possesses a capable human resource in this sector (transport engineering) at the Moratuwa University, the consortium has decided to tap such resources for the benefit of both parties.

There will be opportunities for graduates and undergraduates involved in the research to get professional training in Korea which will improve their knowledge of the latest technology on the modern railway systems, signalling and communication systems. This landmark project will provide a unique opportunity for ultimately achieving the goals of the Mahinda Chinthana.

The design concept is benchmarked directly from Korea's existing transportation system. The Incheon International Airport, a gateway to Korea, is connected to metropolitan Seoul area directly, through the Airport Express Railway. After getting off from the Airport Express Railway, passengers can go to any place in metropolitan Seoul by choosing another subway line.

Although the company cannot duplicate all of Korea's current transportation systems in Sri Lanka, they will try their best to develop systems that can benefit people in the Colombo Metropolitan Area effectively in a practical way. This is one of the successful solutions proposed for the present heavy traffic jams in Colombo and the suburbs. The project also envisaged improvements to the railway and other related technical systems, such as IT-based signal and telecom system, traffic management system, security management system (CCTV), railway level crossing protection system and a railway concrete sleepers plant based on a buy back agreement. The first project steering meeting was held in January 2010 with the Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama and Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. Another round of discussions took place in Seoul later.

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by AbstractLife_12

Sunday, 2 September 2012, Sunday Observer

Several participants at the meeting raised the point that the road leading to Sri Jayawardhanapura is used by the Members of Parliament and VVIPs when Parliamentary sessions are in progress. Erecting a monorail over the road on concrete poles in the middle of the road could disturb VIP movements.

Oh yes, can't allow anything to happen to these precious souls. Hik.

[AbstractLife_12]

23 Aug, 2012 18:02:16
Sri Lanka south railway financed by US$278mn China credit
Aug 23, 2012 (LBO) - China will give a 278 million credit to finance a railway track from Matara in Sri Lanka's South to Beliatta, cabinet spokesman minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.

The Exim Bank will provide 200 million US dollars under preferential buyers credit terms and the government of China will give a concessional loan of 508 million yuan.
China Exim Bank's preferential buyers credit usually come with only 2.0 percent interest and 20 year payback with 5 or 7 year's grace period, a half percent management fee and commitment fee.

The project involves building 26.75 kilometres of track, bridges, stations underpasses and overpasses. It is part of a plan to connect Matara with Kataragama.


Sri Lanka will have to bear a slightly higher cost with repaying renminbi loans as the Chinese currency is set to appreciate against the US dollar.
US Mercantilists have put pressure on China to appreciate the currency falsely claiming that the Renminibi is undervalued.

[rahmy22]

A year ago, Expo Rail commenced its journey to redefine train travel in Sri Lanka with the first luxury compartment attached to the Kandy Intercity train. Badulla was then added to the list of destinations on 10 December 2011 while the first train to Vavuniya was flagged off on 31 January 2012, making Expo Rail the fastest growing luxury train service provider in Sri Lanka.
Trincomalee is the latest major destination that was added to the list, bringing the Expo Rail service to a total of 60 major towns and cities of Sri Lanka.

Expo Rail ensures its passengers a unique travel experience, with each and every facet of the luxury train compartment designed with their comfort in mind. The 44,500 customers who have travelled to date bear testimony to the unparalleled service standards maintained at Expo Rail, where the onboard crew meets and greets each passenger, welcoming them to the state-of-the-art carriages making them feel at home immediately.

Speaking on Expo Rail completing one year of operations, Group CEO, Expolanka Hanif Yusoof said: “We are delighted and humbled to have been able to complete our first year of operation as Sri Lanka’s premier provider of luxury rail travel. From the inception, we were focused on giving our passengers the best service and best onboard experience. We are glad to see our efforts pay off with passengers travelling with us to over 60 main destinations on four different routes covering the north, east and central Sri Lanka. We have exciting plans for the coming year, and look forward to expand our services even further.”

Conceptualised as a public-private partnership between Expolanka Holdings and Sri Lanka Railways, Expo Rail was instrumental in bringing about a new layer of choices for the discerning traveller and the adventurous tourist. The service combines the reliability and strength of the national railway system with the modernity and luxury of custom-built railway carriages and customer service. The support and co-operation of the management and staff at Sri Lanka Railways has been vital in the growth and expansion of Expo Rail. The company is grateful for the partnership they have forged in redefining train travel in Sri Lanka.

Expo Rail has proven to be an innovative and flexible service provider extending value-added services to potential customers with online and mobile booking options, travel packages for customers who wish to tour the cities that they travel to, and even special custom designed rail schedules and charter services for corporates who truly want to impress their customers and partners.
Over the past year Expo Rail has scheduled special trains with only Expo Rail carriages for Dilmah and Vario Systems to Nanu Oya and Kandy respectively. It has also been privileged to host the Uthura Rudras Cricket Team, the Royal College Bradby Team and the St. Peter’s College Rugby Federation on their trips to the central hills. It has also had the honour of transporting many VIPs and corporates on their trips by train while also providing passage to Nanu Oya for the Speaker of Parliament with his friends and family.

image hosted on flickr


Many passengers of Expo Rail have been converted to repeat travellers, convinced by the efficiency of the service, care and pride taken by Expo Rail to ensure maximum passenger comfort even in the case of an emergency outside their control, such as delays due to landslides blocking the progress of the train or technical breakdown of the engines.
Expo Rail added a missing element in Sri Lanka’s packaging as a must-visit destination for international tourists by giving the assurance of a first-class service in all spheres when it comes to rail travel. Luxurious reclining seats for spacious comfort and relaxation, fully air-conditioned carriages with individual power outlets per seat and free Wi-Fi along with wide screen LCD televisions are set up to enhance the journey with comfort and entertainment, while the meals served on board add a new dimension to rail travel.

Simple luxuries onboard include spacious overhead compartments, ‘first aid’ treatment on hand and clean wash rooms while a friendly cabin crew offers a personalised service.
Expolanka Holdings PLC, the Holding Company of the Expolanka Group, commenced operations in 1978. The company is listed in the Main Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange as a diversified conglomerate.

image hosted on flickr

[Shakeel]

Originally Posted by saraprobe

They shamelessly cut and paste trans American new high speed railway project

Any updates on this project or KPMG is taking its own sweet time. I doubt this project.

[lordvader]

Originally Posted by Shakeel

Any updates on this project or KPMG is taking its own sweet time. I doubt this project.

Doubt it bro. As Sara said they just copied pics from the California High Speed Rail Project which probably indicates that there isnt any actual concept behind it.


Also here are some websites with pics of the new Chinese S12 trains:
http://sriamerican.blogspot.com.au/2...-railways.html
http://slloco.netai.net/s12.html

[erathal]

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said seven new power sets (S12) imported from China recently will operate on the Upcountry Line.

The seven power-sets consist of one luxury carriage, three class two and four class three carriages,in addition to a restaurant, adjustable seats and facilities to dump litter. Minister Welgama participating in a test run of new power set (S.12) from Colombo Fort to Badulla said SLR has ordered 13 high tech power sets from China under the US $ 101 million credit line agreement. The loan would be settled within 15 years.

He said four out of 13 power sets handed over to the SLR are being used on the Kelani Valley railway line. Two super luxury trains would also be imported and deployed on the upcountry railway line. Each super luxury train has two engines, five super luxury compartments, and seating capacity for 254 passengers in addition to a restaurant and facilities to dump litter.

The current speed limit of the “Podi Menike train operating from Colombo Fort to Badulla is 20 Km per hour. But, with the deployment of these new power sets, it is expected to reduce the travel time between Colombo Fort to Badulla.

Source

[Shakeel]

You could be right lordvader. These projects are just punching bags.

[Nuwan Malala]

Originally Posted by AbstractLife_12

[IMG]http://i47.************/13z1f6x.jpg[/IMG]

This is a building in Shanghai currently under construction.

link

[lankaputra]

[zayeem]

Colombo Monorail
http://garamspace.co.kr/eng/project_02.html

Metro Colombo Urban Development Project

http://www.defence.lk/MCUDP/MCUDP.asp

[Popthepuff]

Originally Posted by Shakeel

Any updates on this project or KPMG is taking its own sweet time. I doubt this project.

The report is supposed to come out sometime in 2013.

[AbstractLife_12]

10/12/12

















Source

[Popthepuff]

Is that Chinese, Korean or what? I honestly can't tell.....
On the bright side, it looks like this is a serious project with foreign investment, so hopefully it goes ahead and gets completed.

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by Popthepuff

Is that Chinese, Korean or what? I honestly can't tell.....
On the bright side, it looks like this is a serious project with foreign investment, so hopefully it goes ahead and gets completed.

It's Korean.

Although i have my doubts about the success of this project. A Monorail or whatever it is requires A LOT of power, high frequency, cheap ticket prices and of course the population to sustain it. The greater Colombo population is not that big (compared to cities like Mumbai, London or HK), and if ticket prices are high the passenger volumes using the system will be low as a result this concept won't be earning money (just for maintenance, let alone "earning back" the investment/construction costs).

Personally i believe what SL needs is an efficent, on time modern Rapid Bus transit system.

[Popthepuff]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

It's Korean.

Although i have my doubts about the success of this project. A Monorail or whatever it is requires A LOT of power, high frequency, cheap ticket prices and of course the population to sustain it. The greater Colombo population is not that big (compared to cities like Mumbai, London or HK), and if ticket prices are high the passenger volumes using the system will be low as a result this concept won't be earning money (just for maintenance, let alone "earning back" the investment/construction costs).

Personally i believe what SL needs is an efficent, on time modern Rapid Bus transit system.

Hm. Its primarily aimed for tourists to Colombo and world-travelers heading out from Colombo. and there is a fairly large number of tourists, we reached 950,000 this year, and Sri-Lanka is tipped as the best travel destination for 2013 by various organizations.

Don't be so pessimistic, it could be successful, and we could use an improvement to the rather old fashioned, somewhat rundown, Victorian-era railways that run through the country. We could use an improvement in the bus system too, though. But isn't there some plan for that too? I heard there was.....

[Cayman]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

It's Korean.

Although i have my doubts about the success of this project. A Monorail or whatever it is requires A LOT of power, high frequency, cheap ticket prices and of course the population to sustain it. The greater Colombo population is not that big (compared to cities like Mumbai, London or HK), and if ticket prices are high the passenger volumes using the system will be low as a result this concept won't be earning money (just for maintenance, let alone "earning back" the investment/construction costs).

Personally i believe what SL needs is an efficent, on time modern Rapid Bus transit system.

I was under the same impression, until someone on this forum pointed me to the Metro in Delhi which is run impeccably, yet offering rock bottom ticket prices compared to Western counterparts. As far as I know it is not subsidized by the Indian government either.