Locomotive drivers say that they cannot operate trains without proper protection from the police and army, following today’s assault on the driver of a Colombo-bound train by a mob of angry passengers.

The attack, which had disrupted services along the main railway line for nearly half an hour this morning, was reportedly carried out due to the train traveling at a ‘very slow’ pace.  

Chandana Lal, Treasurer of the Locomotive Operating Engineers Association, said that they had taken the decision due to the attacks on train drivers.

The driver of the train, which was traveling towards Colombo from Mahawa, was assaulted near the Polgahawela train station today, the Railway Control Room said.

This had disrupted train services along the line for nearly 30 minutes before the situation returned to normal.

Railway employees such as engine drivers had resorted to work-to-rule action on Wednesday following the recent train collisions in Pothuhera and Aluthgama.

This had resulted in the delay of the departure of several trains from Colombo Fort yesterday while passengers on their way to work were largely inconvenienced as the journey had taken longer than usual.

It has been reported that the assault incident in Polahawela had been provoked by the ‘very slow’ speed of the train owing to the work-to-rule action.

It has also been reported that several trains had been delayed for over an hour.