Trains, buses will resume interprovincial services from Nov. 1

The National Transport Commission (NTC), Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and Sri Lanka Railways Department (SLRD) scheduled to resume their passenger transport services after the inter-provincial travel restriction are lifted on November 1.

Accordingly, NTC Director General Nilan Miranda told the Daily Mirror that they have scheduled to operate the private bus services according to the requirements of the passengers.

He stated that the private buses will be operated per health regulations and that the drivers and conductors must have received both COVID-19 vaccines to resume their duties.

"Drivers, conductors, as well as passengers, should wear face masks and should transport passengers according to the seating capacity," he said.

The NTC Director General said that they have scheduled to initiate several staff services to facilitate the office crowd to reach their work places in Colombo.

Meanwhile, the Railways General Manager (GMR) J.I.D. Jayasundara said 152 trains will run from November 1. 

Accordingly, 50 up and down train journeys will be operated on the mainline, six trains on the Northern line. 66 trains will be on track on the coastal line, 14 on the Kelani Valley railway line, and 16 trains will be on the Puttalam Railway line, the GMR said. He asked people not to use the services other than for essential duties.

"The Railway Department has assigned more trains to facilitate the commuters and to maintain their social distances while adhering to the health guidelines", he said.

He also requested commuters to select the appropriate trains as per the timetable to avoid being caught in traffic, he added.

Moreover, an SLTB senior official said that their bus services are currently operating to provide passenger transport services.

The inter-provincial bus service will operate according to passenger requirements, and relevant depot heads have been told about this, he said.

Furthermore, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said the buses will run from November 1 accommodating passengers to the seating capacity.