The Yal Devi train resumed operations after 23 years from Omanthai to Kilinochchi a short while ago with President Mahinda Rajapaksa as its first Passenger.

The Yal Devi which travelled only up to Madawachchiya after 1990, was restricted to Vavuniya, during the final stages of the war.

The railway line from Medawachchi to Kankasanthurai in the northern most part of the country was constructed and commissioned for traffic on September 10, 1905 and the rail line was destroyed by the LTTE several times and the train service completely ceased operations after June 13, 1990.

The Yal Devi recommenced operations to Thandikulam on June 7, 2009 and then extended its run to Omanthai on May 29 of 2011.

The rail track up to KKS is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) has undertaken the construction work as the key contractor of the project.

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) will operate three trains to Kilinochchi daily commencing tomorrow and will include the Yal Devi which operated up to Omanthai earlier, the Deyata Kirula intercity train which ran up to Medawachchiya earlier and the night mail train from Colombo.

According to the schedule, the Yal Devi will leave Colombo Fort at 5.45 a.m. and reach the Kilinochchi station at 12.35 p.m.

The Deyata Kirula intercity train will leave the Colombo Fort station at 6.50 am and reach the Kilinochchi station at 11.48 pm.

The night mail train will leave the Colombo Fort station at 10.15pm and arrive at Kilinochchi at 4.10am (next day). On the return journey, the Yal Devi will leave the Kilinochchi station at 6 am and arrive at the Colombo Fort station at 1pm.

The Deyata Kirula intercity train will leave Kilinochchi at 2.18 pm and reach Colombo Fort at 7.16pm.

Meanwhile, the night mail train will leave the Kilinochchi station at 8.30 pm and arrive at Colombo Fort at 4.40 am (next day).

The re-construction of the northern railway line and return of the Yal Devi express train to Kilinochchi will see the resumption of the normal train services to the North after 20 years.

The train could travel at a speed of 120 kmh since it has been constructed by IRCON, an Indian Company.

A new signaling and telecommunication system for the railway Northern network has been installed with all level crossings interlocked with a new signalling system, to ensure safety.