| Sri Lanka Railways Class S11 | |
|---|---|
S11 DMU viewed from on-board |
|
| In service | Since March 2011[1] |
| Manufacturer | RITES Ltd[1] |
| Constructed | 2011—2012 (in progress)[1] |
| Number built | 20 trainsets expected by 2012,[1] currently on delivery in phases |
| Number in service | 9 |
| Formation | 6 cars per trainset(1DPC + 4 TC + 1 DTC (DPC-Driving power coach, TC- trailer Coach, DTC- Driving trailer coach))[2] |
| Capacity | DPC-31(third Class) , 3x TC - 90x3 (third class) , TC- 72 (second class) , DTC -56 (Second Class)[2] |
| Operator | Sri Lanka Railways[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | DPC & DTC - 21462mm |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph)[2] |
| Weight | 100 tonnes (20 tonnes for DPC, 16 tonnes for TCs & DTC) |
| Engine(s) | KTA 50L turbocharged, 1360hp V type 16 Cylinder 4stroke engine |
| Transmission | On-board Diesel Electric AC/DC |
| Gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
Sri Lanka Railways Class S11 is a diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train, built for Sri Lanka Railways by RITES Ltd, an Indian state infrastructure corporation. The DMUs are currently being imported in phases, with the last batch arriving in Sri Lanka in March 2012.[1] They were built to replace locomotive-hauled passenger trains. Twenty S11 DMUs were ordered to strengthen long distance travel on the Coastal railway line from Colombo to Matara.[2]
Contents |
The railway decided to add the DMUs to its service as part of its Coastal line's upgrade project, where track was upgraded to improve speed.[2] The DMUs were built by RITES Ltd, to replace locomotive-hauled passenger trains.[3]
The trains were inaugarated into the railway service in March 2011, with a ceremony at Matara Railway Station. According to a press release from the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, twenty DMUs are being supplied to Sri Lanka Railways in phases till March 2012.[1]
One of the DMUs faced technical problems on its inaugral journey. During the journey, the train came to an abrupt halt, which delayed it considerably. This raised questions of the quality of the S11 DMUs, and their importing was suspended.[4] In April, the suspension was revoked, as a team from RITES inspected them and declared that the faults were due to an electrical failure caused by tinkering.[5]
On 17 September 2011, near Alawwa, two trains (a locomotive-hauled train and an S11 DMU) collided, killing 3 people and injuring 20. The S11 ran into the rear observation car of the train ahead.[6]
The S11 DMUs are primarily operated on the Coastal line, connecting Colombo, Galle, and Matara.[2] The sets are used on the Ruhunu Kumari,[7] Vavniya ICE and several other suburban trains.
| Class | Operator | No. in service | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit numbers. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class S11 | Sri Lanka Railways | 9 (20 expected by March 2012)[1] | 2011 - 2012 (currently being introduced in phases)[1] | 6[2] | 894 - 902 |