May 10, Colombo: The Railway Department says that only those who have registered with the Railway Department before last Thursday (May 07) can travel on the office trains that run from tomorrow.

The Deputy General Manager (Commercial) of the Railway Department, Saman Polwattege said that the registrations for the first week were made in response to the requests made by the heads of the public and private sector for essential services.

According to the Deputy General Manager, registered passengers will be informed in a SMS about the train they should take, carriage and the seat number. The passengers will be allowed only after the information in the SMS message is verified at the starting station.

Any passenger who does not have such permits will not be allowed to enter the railway station.

The body temperature of each passenger would be checked at each train station before getting into the trains. Anyone with high temperature, cough or cold will not be permitted to enter the train stations. People cannot change the seats other than the assigned seat with the number given in the SMS.

The journey from start to the destination will be carried out in a regulated manner, the official said.

The covid-19 Task Force had assigned 600 Army soldiers for security purposes and two Army officers would be assigned to each compartment.

Only the season ticket holders who register between May 11th and 13th will be allowed for travel on trains during the week beginning May 18th.

More details are available at the Railway Department’s website and through the hotline 1971. The details of how to register for the week can be obtained from the official website of the Department of Railways www.railway.gov.lk

Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager of Railways (Transport), Gamini Seneviratne said that 10 office trains have been deployed for the week starting tomorrow.

He further stated that the passenger transport is carried out by maintaining the one meter distance and hygienic procedures under the protection of the Army and the Police.