Sri Lanka Ceylon Railway

Sri Lanka train tours or train travel, while slower is more comfortable. The trains are the most cheapest, safe and enjoyable traveling method in Sri Lanka. From the Colombo Fort which is the central railway station travelers can take their trains to different destinations. You can take trains to most of the important places in the Sri Lanka.

History of the Sri Lanka Railway: Sri Lanka Railways, or Ceylon Government Railway, was conceived in the 1850’s as an instrument to develop and unify the country. The 1st sod of the Sri Lanka Railways was cut by Sir Henry Ward, the Governor, in August in1858. The Railway Network was introduced by the British in 1864 and 1st train ran on 27th December 1864, with the construction of the Main Line from Colombo to Ambepussa, 54 kilometers to the east. This line was officially opened for traffic on 02nd October 1865. The Railway extended and developed it’s network and in 1927, a total route length of 1530 km was in operation. The Main Line was extended in stages, with service to Kandy in 1867, to Nawalapitiya in 1874, to Nanu-Oya in 1885, to Bandarawela in 1894, and to Badulla in 1924. Other lines were completed in due course to link the other parts of the country, the Matale Line in 1880, the Coast Line in 1895, the Northern Line in 1905, the Mannar Line in 1914, the Kelani Valley Line in 1919, the Puttalam Line in 1926, and the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Lines in 1928.

The Railway was initially built to transport coffee and tea from the hill country to Colombo for export and was for many years, the main source of income. With population growth, however, passenger traffic increased and in the 1960’s overtook freight as the main source of business. The Railway is now primarily engaged in the transport of passengers, especially commuters to and from Colombo, offering a vital service and reducing road congestion.

Train names in Sri Lanka
A number of long distance trains were named by CGR (Ceylon Government Railway).
Regular Services:
• Udarata Menike (Upcountry Maiden) – Runs between Colombo Fort and Badulla
• Podi Menike (Little Maiden) – Connects Colombo Fort and Badulla (no longer runs via Kandy, only through coaches to Kandy)
• Tikiri Menike (Little Maiden) – Colombo Fort to Hatton
• Senkadagala Menike (Maiden of “Senkadagala”– area name) – Runs between Colombo Fort and Kandy
• Yal Devi (Princess/Queen of Jaffna) – Was operated between Colombo Fort and Kankasanthurei via Jaffna (now only up to Thandikulam)
• Udaya Devi (Princess/Queen of the Rise -East) – Runs between Colombo Fort and Batticaloa
• Rajarata Rajina (Queen of the land of kings) – Runs between Vavuniya and Matara via Colombo Fort
• Ruhunu Kumari (Princess of “Ruhuna” – southern province) – Between Colombo (Maradana) and Matara
• Samudra Devi (Queen of the Oceans) – Colombo (Maradana) to Galle
• Galu Kumari (Princess of Galle) – Colombo (Maradana) to Matara
• Sagarika (Name of Ocean in Sinhala Language) – Colombo (Maradana) to Galle
• Muthu Kumari (Princess of Pearls) – Operates between Panadura and Chilaw

Special Trains in Sri Lanka:
• Viceroy Special – Colombo to Badulla (Tourist train powered by steam)
• Bradby Express – Colombo to Kandy (for the Kandy leg of the annual Bradby Shield Encounter)

Trains have several classes :
» 1st class sleeper: 1st class sleeping-berths are available on a few overnight trains.

» 1st class observation car: Available on the best daytime trains on the scenic route from Colombo to Kandy and Badulla. The observation car is normally at the rear of the train (or sometimes behind the locomotive) and has comfortable armchairs facing a large window looking back along the track. Seats must be reserved before departure. The 1st class observation car is highly recommended.

» 1st class air-conditioned seats car: Only available on one or two trains.

» 2nd class seats: Available on all trains. These come in several versions, depending on the train:
(1) Unreserved seats, where you buy a ticket, hop on and sit in any available seat,
(2) Reserved seats where you must make a reservation and you get an allocated seat,
(3) Reserved ‘sleeperette’ reclining seats which are available on most overnight trains. 2nd class seats are the recommended option on trains with no 1st class.

» 3rd class seats: Available on most of the trains. These come in several versions, depending on the train: unreserved seats, reserved seats, and reserved ‘sleeperette’ reclining seats. 3rd class is very basic and gets very crowded, and it is not generally recommended for visitors.

Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka
1. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Main Line – Colombo to Badulla

The railway network, which began operating in 1864, comprises nine lines radiating from Colombo, the most beautiful of which runs deep into the hills, traveling via Kandy and Nuwara Eliya before terminating in Badulla. This journey offers spectacular hill-country views as the train winds its way past gushing waterfalls and through neatly-clipped tea estates.

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  Alawwa40Galaboda94 Station Name Distance (Mile) From Colombo Fort   Kelaniya 3 Hunupitiya 5 Ragama 9 Gampaha 16 Meerigama 30 Ambepussa 34 Polgahawela 45 Rambukkana 52 Kadugannawa 65 Peradiniya (Junction) 70 Kandy 73 Gampola 78 Ulapane 82 Nawalapitiya 87 Watawala 100 Rosella 103 Kotagala 111 Thalawakele 115 Watagoda 120 Nanu Oya 128 Ambewela 137 Pattipola 139 Ohiya 143 Idalgashinna – Haputale 153 Diyatalawa 156 Bandarawela 160 Ella 168 Demodara 171 Hali – Ela 177 Badulla 181

2. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Matale Line from Peradeniya junction to Kandy and Matale

The Matale Line branches off the Main Line at Peradeniya Junction, near the world-famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. It connects to Kandy, home of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, before descending to Matale.

  Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Peradiniya Junction   katugastota 10 Wattegama 14 Ukuwela 20 Matale 24

3. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Coast Line– Colombo Secretariat halt to Matara via Galle – extension of the track up to Hambantota and Kataragama is currently under construction.

The Coast Line (Southern Line) runs south from Colombo, following the edge of the Indian Ocean. It offers passengers views of tropical beaches and coconut palms.

Bentota

  Mount Lavinia8Payagala South31 Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line From Colombo Fort   Colombo Fort – Slave Island 2 Kollupitiya 3 Bambalapitiya 4 Wellawatta 5 Dehiwala 7 Ratmalana – Agulana 11 Lunawa 12 Moratuwa 13 Panadura 17 Wadduwa 21 Kalutara North 26 Kalutara South 27 Beruwela 35 Aluthgama 38 Induruwa 41 Kosgoda 45 Balapitiya 49 Ambalangoda 52 Hikkaduwa 60 Dodanduwa 64 Gintota 68 Galle 71 Talpe 78 Koggala – Ahangama 84 Weligama 89 Kamburugamuwa 95 Matara 98

4. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Northern Line

Polgahawela to Kankesanturei deviates from the Main Line at Polgahawela junction – presently operating only up to Omanthai, track was abandoned beyond Vavuniya due to war but extended service up to Omanthei on May 2011 after the end of civil war. Reconstruction began in March 2009 to re-extend track up to Kankesanthurai.

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  Maho Junction40Vauniya112 Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line From Polgahawela Junction   Polgawela Junction – Pothuhara 8 Kurunegala 14 Wellawaya 20 Ganewatta 27 Nagollagama 35 Ambanpola 48 Galagamuwa 54 Thambuththegama 66 Talawa 72 Sawasthripura 77 Anuradhapura 82 Parasagahawewa 90 Medawachchiya Juction 98 Puliyankulam 127 Mankulam 141 Kilinochchi 160 Paranthan 163 Chundikkulam Lagoon – Elephant Pass – Palalli 177 Kodikamamam 186 Meesalai – Sankathanai – Chawakachcheri 191 Thachanthoppu – Navankuli 196 Uppu Aru Lagoon – Punkankulam – Jaffna 201 Kokkuvil 203 Kondawil 204 Inukam – Chunnakam 206 Mallakam – Tellipalai – Mawiddapuram – Kankasanthurei 212

5. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Batticaloa Line- separates from the Northern Line at Maho junction and extends up to Batticaloa via Polonnaruwa

The Batticaloa Line branches eastward from the Northern Line at Maho, to Polonnaruwa, site of an ancient capital in the 11th century and home to many historic monuments. The line continues to the eastern city of Batticaloa.

  Galoya Junction55 Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Mahoo Junction   Mahoo Junction – Moragollagama 14 Kalawewa 26 Kekirawa 31 Habarana – Palugaswewa 41 Minneriya – Hinguraggoda 66 Polonnaruwa 76 Manampitiya 82 Punani – Valachchena – Batticaloa –

6. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Tricomalee Line- separates from the Batticaloaline at Gal-oya junction in the to Trincomalee.

  Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Gal Oya Junction   Gal Oya Junction – Kanthalai 19 Thampalakamam 30 China Bay 40 Trincomalee 44

7. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Puttalam Line – Colombo to Puttalam – deviates from the Main Line at Ragama.

Chilaw

  Lunuwila24 Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Ragama Junaction   Ragama Junction – Peralanda – Kandana – Kapuwatta – Ja-Ella 4 Thudella – Alawathugoda – Seduwa 8 Liyanagemulla – Katunayake 11 Kurana 12 Negombo 15 Kochchikade 18 Belawatta 21 Nattandiya 29 Madampe 35 Bangadeniya 47 Mundai 58 Palavi 71 Puttlama 74 Noor Nagar –

8. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Mannar Line (Earlier Indo-Lanka Line) Madawachchi to Talaimannar – Divides from Northern Line at Madawachchi junction

  Pesalai58 Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Medawachchiya Junction   Medawachchiya Junction – Wedichikulama 13 Madhu Road 27 Murunkan 35 Gulf of Mannar – Mannar 49 Talaimannar 64

9. Train Tour Routes in Sri Lanka – Kelani Valley Line (originally narrow gauge) – Colombo to Yatiyantota – presently operating only up to Avissawella, the track beyond Avissawella was abandoned in 1940. Broad gauged up to Avissawella in 1997

Watareka

  Nugegoda6Panagoda- Station Name Distance (Mile) The Line from Colombo Fort   Colombo – Maradana – Baseline Road – Cotta Road – Narahenpita 3 Kirulapona – Pengiriwatta – Udahamulla – Nawinna – Maharagama 9 Pannipitiya – Kottawa 12 Malapalla – Homagama 15 Godagama – Meegoda 18 Padukka 22 Waga 28 Kosgama 31 Puwakpitiya – Awissawella 37