Trains in Sri Lanka: schedule, map

For moving over long distances local population actively uses mainly two types of transport - buses and railways. The total length of railway tracks in the country is 1,447 km.

The railway, like buses, in Sri Lanka are very inexpensive and popular view transport. There are only three species in the country public transport: railway, public and private buses.

Sri Lanka train schedule

The current train schedule can be found online on the Sri Lanka Railways website. Pay attention to the type indicated in the schedule: it may be express or local- the speeds of these types of trains are different and a short route covered by an express train in 1.5 hours can take 3 hours by a local train. But there are also advantages - local trains stop at all stations, and express trains often pass by small railway stations.

Map of railway lines of Sri Lanka

Complete map of the railway lines of the island of Sri Lanka. The railway service covers a number of popular tourist destinations: all southwest coast to Matara, Kandy, Peradeniya (Royal Botanical Garden), Nuwara Eliya (the railway station is called Nanu Oya), Pinnawela (Rambukkana railway station), Hatton, Ella and further to Badulla, Jaffna, Mannar, Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, etc. From the main transport hub countries - the city of Colombo, you can reach most of them by rail major cities countries. Unfortunately, the railway branch to Hambantota has not yet been completed; only its first section to Beliatta was opened in 2019.

Resolution: 2000*3000.

Open the map of Sri Lanka railway lines in a new tab.

Online railway map of Sri Lanka

When planning a trip to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, remember that the train connection is through Colombo, i.e. It is impossible to get from the resort town on the coast to Kandy without a transfer to Colombo.

Also be careful with the departure times of trains at peripheral stations: trains may not only be late, but also arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Allow this waiting time to avoid unpleasant situations.

Sri Lanka railway routes

1. Colombo - Matara (southwest), runs along the entire popular tourist resort southwest coast to Matara. A branch to Kataragama (near Yala Park), covering resorts such as Dickwella and Tangalle, is planned but not yet built. For 2019, the Matara - Beliatta (south) section was opened, which runs along south coast islands, is the first segment of the Matara - Kataragama road.
2. Colombo - Puttalam (northwest), the branch runs along the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka, passing through the resort towns of Negombo, Marawila, and Chilau. There is a kitesurfing center close to Puttalam resort village Kalpitiya.
3. Colombo - Avissawella (centre) relatively short railway line towards the center of the island.
4. Colombo - Jaffna (north) runs all the way to the north of the country, ending in Jaffna. The line was badly damaged during civil war, were destroyed, but have now been restored, in the areas of the cities of Vavuniya and Killinochchi.
5. Colombo - Mannar (north) goes to the northwestern part of the country, along the Mannar Peninsula, from which Adam's Bridge begins (a chain of islands to the Indian city of Rameswaram).
6. Colombo - Mihintale (north-central part) towards the north of the island, through the city of Anuradhapura, which is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. The city of Mihintale is the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
7. Colombo - Badulla (centre) goes to the central highlands of the country. Extremely popular with tourists because... passes through many attractions of the mountainous part: the Peradeniya-Nuwara Eliya section of the route is famous for its landscapes (mountains, tea plantations), Hatton (Adam's Peak), part of the route runs through National Park Horton Plains, Bandarawella, Ella (mountains, waterfalls, plantations), Demodara (Ella-Demodara bridge), to Badulla.
8. Colombo - Matali (centre) the railway branch goes to the center of the country, a popular destination among tourists, passing through the city of Kandy, which is one of the cities Cultural triangle Sri Lanka and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, passes through the Pinnavelu Elephant Nursery (Rambukkana).
9. Colombo - Trincomalee (east) goes through the center of the country to the northeast. Resort town Trincomalee is popular with tourists from May to September, during the season. The railway line is taking over tourist city Avukana, where the attraction of Avukana and Habarana (tree houses) is located.
10. Colombo - Batticaloa (east) passes through the center of the country, to the northeast of the island, splits off from a line to Trincomalee at Gal Oye and ends at Batticaloa. Popular with tourists traveling to resort towns Kalkuda and Passikuda.

Train interchange stations

Junction stations connecting railway branches are mostly completely small towns, this should be taken into account when planning your route.

You can get from Colombo to Kandy by bus, taxi and train. We recommend that you go by train. Since it is not only the cheapest and fastest, but also more interesting and safer.

Train

At the Colombo Fort station we find the 3rd track. There are several of them, so we need the outermost platform near the station building. By the way, at the station there are active “helpers”, men who will kindly show you which track and train, and then ask for money. We gave such a friend 100 rupees, although he asked for 1000.

Tip: buy tickets Colombo - Kandy 2-3 days in advance, as there may not be enough seats

This is what the required platform looks like from the pedestrian bridge:

Cost of tickets to Kandy is approximately per person
1st class: 500 rupees
2nd class: 250 rupees
3rd class: 100 rupees

The train to Kandy is approaching. First class carriage ahead:

How to find out what class the car is?

On each carriage, near the doors, there is a number indicating the class of the carriage. The first class carriages look modern.

We get on the train. We traveled from Colombo to Kandy in first class. Of course, this carriage is worth the money. Clean and modern. Traders don't come here. The air conditioners are working at full capacity, warm clothes will come in handy.

Train Colombo-Kandy. 1st class carriage

First class train tickets look like an A4 printout. Second and third class tickets look something like this:

While driving, you can sleep, watch Indian films on monitors or enjoy beautiful views:

After 4 hours we arrived at the Kandy train station:

Waiting hall

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article

How to use this thing remains a mystery to us:

Externally the station building looks like this:

Hotels in Kandy

• Hantana Home Stay
• 38b Homestay Heerassagala
• Mountain View Holiday Home
• Greenwood Edge Hanthana
• Hill City Mansion- hotel near the station

All hotels on Booking.com

Return route: Kandy - Colombo train

2nd class carriages

We were unable to buy return tickets for 1st class, as we bought them on the day of departure, so we went in a second class carriage without reserved seats and without air conditioning. That is, whoever stood up first gets the slippers.

There are no air conditioners, but there are ceiling fans. I can’t say that the heat was unbearable, the windows were open and there was good ventilation, our trains are much hotter in the summer

There were a lot of people, there weren’t enough seats for everyone, so we rode standing first. Our company consisted of 4 girls and one man. We must pay tribute to the Sri Lankans, they showed an unusually good side and gave way to women. Katya and I swapped places and in 4.5 hours we got to Colombo.

3rd class carriages

The carriages are not much different from 2nd class, they are exactly the same shabby. They also have wooden seats for 3 people and can accommodate more people.

You can cool down while driving outside. Doors on Sri Lankan trains never close.

You can also have a snack while traveling or at stops. Sellers of some strange food and cold drinks are constantly wandering around the train, singing yet another tongue twister in their own language. By the way, merchants do not enter 1st class carriages.

Is it safe to travel in Sri Lanka by train?

Our opinion is quite safe. We traveled by train in Sri Lanka several times, and there was never a single criminal incident with either tourists or locals. Follow the usual safety rules and everything will be fine.

Transfer Colombo - Kandy by taxi

It is possible to order a transfer to Kandy from Colombo or from your hotel at the resorts of Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Bentota. Prices vary depending on where you are. You can order a taxi in Kandy online follow this link >>

Book transfer to Kandy online

Trains in Sri Lanka: schedule, map

To travel long distances, the local population actively uses mainly two types of transport - buses and railways. The total length of railway tracks in the country is 1,447 km.

Railroads, like buses, are a very inexpensive and popular form of transport in Sri Lanka. There are only three types of public transport in the country: railway, public and private buses.

Sri Lanka train schedule

The current train schedule can be found online on the Sri Lanka Railways website. Pay attention to the type indicated in the schedule: it may be express or local- the speeds of these types of trains are different and a short route covered by an express train in 1.5 hours can take 3 hours by a local train. But there are also advantages - local trains stop at all stations, and express trains often pass by small railway stations.

Map of railway lines of Sri Lanka

Complete map of the railway lines of the island of Sri Lanka. The railway service covers a number of popular tourist destinations: the entire south-west coast to Matara, Kandy, Peradeniya (Royal Botanical Gardens), Nuwara Eliya (the railway station is called Nanu Oya), Pinnawela (Rambukkana railway station), Hatton, Ella and further to Badulla, Jaffna, Mannar, Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, etc. From the main transport hub of the country - the city of Colombo, you can reach most of the country's major cities by rail. Unfortunately, the railway branch to Hambantota has not yet been completed; only its first section to Beliatta was opened in 2019.

Resolution: 2000*3000.

Open the map of Sri Lanka railway lines in a new tab.

Online railway map of Sri Lanka

When planning a trip to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, remember that the train connection is through Colombo, i.e. It is impossible to get from the resort town on the coast to Kandy without a transfer to Colombo.

Also be careful with the departure times of trains at peripheral stations: trains may not only be late, but also arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Allow this waiting time to avoid unpleasant situations.

Sri Lanka railway routes

1. Colombo - Matara (southwest), runs along the entire popular tourist resort southwest coast to Matara. A branch to Kataragama (near Yala Park), covering resorts such as Dickwella and Tangalle, is planned but not yet built. In 2019, the Matara - Beliatta (south) section was opened, which runs along the southern coast of the island and is the first segment of the Matara - Kataragama road.
2. Colombo - Puttalam (northwest), the branch runs along the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka, passing through the resort towns of Negombo, Marawila, and Chilau. Close to Puttalam is the kitesurfing resort village of Kalpitiya.
3. Colombo - Avissawella (centre) relatively short railway line towards the center of the island.
4. Colombo - Jaffna (north) runs all the way to the north of the country, ending in Jaffna. The line was badly damaged during the civil war and was destroyed, but has now been restored, in the areas of the cities of Vavuniya and Killinochchi.
5. Colombo - Mannar (north) goes to the northwestern part of the country, along the Mannar Peninsula, from which Adam's Bridge begins (a chain of islands to the Indian city of Rameswaram).
6. Colombo - Mihintale (north-central part) towards the north of the island, through the city of Anuradhapura, which is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. The city of Mihintale is the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
7. Colombo - Badulla (centre) goes to the central highlands of the country. Extremely popular with tourists because... passes through many attractions of the mountainous part: the Peradeniya-Nuwara Eliya section of the route is famous for its landscapes (mountains, tea plantations), Hatton (Adam's Peak), part of the route runs through Horton Plains National Park, the cities of Bandarawella, Ella (mountains, waterfalls, plantations), Demodara (Ella-Demodara bridge), to Badulla.
8. Colombo - Matali (centre) The railway branch goes to the center of the country, a popular destination among tourists, passes through the city of Kandy, which is one of the cities of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka and the Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya, passes through the Pinnavelu elephant nursery (Rambukkana).
9. Colombo - Trincomalee (east) goes through the center of the country to the northeast. The resort town of Trincomalee is popular with tourists from May to September, during the season. The railway line covers the tourist town of Avukana, where the attraction of Avukana and Habarana (tree houses) is located.
10. Colombo - Batticaloa (east) passes through the center of the country, to the northeast of the island, splits off from a line to Trincomalee at Gal Oye and ends at Batticaloa. Popular with tourists traveling to the resort towns of Kalkuda and Passikuda.

Train interchange stations

The junction stations connecting the railway branches are mostly very small towns; this should be taken into account when planning the route.

Trains are the cheapest, safest and most enjoyable way to travel around Sri Lanka. From Colombo Fort which is central train station, travelers can take trains to different places islands. You can take the train to most of the important places in Sri Lanka.

History of the Sri Lanka Railway

The Sri Lanka Railway was conceived in the 1850s as an instrument for the development and unification of the country. The first sod for the construction of Sri Lanka's railways was cut by Sir Henry Ward, the Governor, in August 1858. The first railway in Sri Lanka was built by the British in 1864, and the first train ran on it on December 27, 1864. It's about about the Colombo - Ambepusse line. This line was officially opened to traffic on October 2, 1865. Sri Lanka's railways were expanding and in 1927 the total length of railway tracks on the island was 1,530 km. The main line was expanded in stages: 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 over time to connect other parts of the country. These were the Matale line in 1880, Coastline in 1895, Northern Line in 1905, Mannar Line in 1914, Kelani Line in 1919, Puttalam Line in 1926 and Batticaloa and Trincomalee Lines in 1928.

The Sri Lanka Railway was originally built to transport coffee and tea from the hill country to Colombo, from where the goods were exported and were a major source of income for many years. However, as the population grew, passenger traffic increased, and in the 1960s the railways began to generate huge amounts of money for the treasury.
At present, the Sri Lanka Railway is mainly engaged in the transport of passengers, especially commuter trains to and from Colombo. Thanks to trains, it is possible to avoid serious traffic jams in the Colombo area.

Sri Lanka Railway Map

Have you already met a short history Sri Lanka Railways. Now it's time to see what the railway network on the island currently looks like. Below you will see a map of Sri Lanka railways, which will give you an idea of ​​which important places you can reach by train.

Train names in Sri Lanka

Some trains in Sri Lanka take their names from the Ceylon Government Railways. Below are these trains:
Udarata Menike (Maiden of the Interior) - runs between Colombo Fort and Badulla
Podi Menike (Little Maiden) - connects Colombo Fort and Badulla
Tikiri Menike (Little Maiden) - runs from Colombo Fort to Hatton
Senkadagala Menike (Maiden "Senkadagala") - walks between Colombo Fort and Kandy
Yal Devi (Princess/Queen of Jaffna) - runs between Colombo Fort and Kankanthauriu via Jaffna
Udaya Devi (Princess/Queen of the Rebellion) - shuttles between Colombo Fort and Batticaloa
Rajarata Rajina (Queen of the Land of Kings) - runs between Vavuniya and Matara via Colombo Fort
Ruhunu Kumari (Princess "Ruhuna" - southern province) - runs between Colombo (Maradana) and Matara
Samudra Devi (Queen of the Oceans) - runs between Colombo (Maradana) and Galle
Galu Kumari (Galle Princess) - runs between Colombo (Maradana) and Matara
Sagarika (ocean name in Sinhala) - runs between Colombo (Maradana) and Galle
Muthu Kumari (Pearl Princess) - runs between Panadura and Chilaw

Special trains in Sri Lanka

There are also a couple of special trains in Sri Lanka, which include:
Viceroy Special - runs between Colombo and Badulla (steam-powered tourist train)
Bradby Express - operates between Colombo and Kandy

Types of carriages on trains in Sri Lanka

Trains in Sri Lanka have several classes of carriages. If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka by train, you should understand the main differences between these cars.

1st class sleeping car: First class sleeping accommodations are only available on a few overnight trains.
1st class carriage with large window: such carriages are only available on the best daytime trains that operate on scenic route from Colombo to Kandy and Badulla. Typically located at the rear of the train (or sometimes just behind the locomotive), this car has comfortable seating facing a large window.
1st class carriage with air conditioning: Available on one or two trains only.

2nd class carriage: available on all trains. These cars have several versions, depending on the train:
Not reserved seats. You buy a ticket, get on the train and choose any available seat.
Reserved seats. When you book your ticket, you will receive an allocated seat.
Reserved sleeping areas. Available on most night trains.

3rd class carriage: Available on most trains. They have the same versions as 2nd class carriages, that is: non-reserved seats, reserved seats and reserved sleeping seats.
3rd class carriages are very simple and usually overcrowded, so tourists are not recommended to travel in such carriages. We recommend choosing 2nd class carriages, but if you are willing to spend more money, you can also ride in a 1st class carriage.

Train schedule in Sri Lanka

There are quite a lot of railways and trains running on them in Sri Lanka, so it would be correct to find out the schedule of a particular train on the official website of the Sri Lanka Railways. The address of this site is http://www.railway.gov.lk/web/.
On this site you can not only find out the train schedule, but also get information about ticket prices and other useful information.
However, if you need more or less full schedule trains in Sri Lanka, then you can see it below. But I would like to note once again that it is advisable to check current schedule trains on the official website of Sri Lanka Railways. Trains in Sri Lanka depart and arrive at the final station on time in most cases. But, as in other countries of the world, transport delays still occur here.
Be sure to enlarge the image to the original size to see the entire schedule clearly.