How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

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Train travel in Sri Lanka . . .

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Train operator: Sri Lanka Government Railways. www.railway.gov.lk. Also try www.slrfc.org/sri-lanka-railways-time-table.html, http://colombofort.com or www.reddottours.com GMT + 5 1 = approx 163 rupees, $1 = 114 rupees Currency converter

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UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian & NZ citizens do not need a visa for up to 30 days, see Sri Lanka High Commission website. 7 September 2011.

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1z6

7.10.2011 18:59

How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm

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Sea travel to Sri Lanka... New ferry service to & from India: Colombo to Tuticorin!
After many years of being cut off from each other, a new ferry service now links Colombo in Sri Lanka with Tuticorin in India as from June 2011, see www.flemingoliners.com. The modern cruise ferry 'Scotia Prince' sails twice a week leaving at 18:00 and arriving at 08:00 next morning, but sailing days change from week to week so see www.flemingoliners.com for dates. All passengers get a sleeping berth in a cabin, fares range from 2243 Indian rupees (about 47 or $77) in an economy class single-berth cabin to 2,760 Indian rupees (58 or $95) in a super deluxe single-berth cabin, all fares include a non-alcoholic 'welcome aboard' drink and a fixed-menu dinner. They have aspirations to make it a daily service in due course. A second ferry service, between Rameswaram and Talaimannar is rumoured to be starting by the end of 2011, but again no details are available.

Train travel in Sri Lanka...

Once in Sri Lanka, trains are a cheap, safe and enjoyable way to get around. Trains link the major cities and have several classes: 1st class sle e pe r . 1st class sleeping-berths are available on a few overnight trains. The cars have lockable 2-berth compartments with separate toilet and washbasin. Bedding is provided. 1st class obse rvation car . The 1st class observation car is highly recommended. It's available on the best daytime trains on the amazingly scenic route from Colombo to Kandy and Badulla. The observation car is normally at the rear of the train (occasionally behind the locomotive) and has comfortable (if slightly grubby) armchairs facing a large window looking back along the track. Seats must be reserved before departure. Seats can be reserved within 10 days of departure, but book early as the observation car is very popular and gets booked up fast, especially during school holidays. You can reserve from outside Sri Lanka via www.reddottours.com. 1st class air -conditione d se ats car . Only available on one or two InterCity Express trains between Colombo & Vavunia and Colombo & Batticaloa. 2nd class se ats, 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, and (3) reserved 'sleeperette' reclining seats which are available on most overnight trains and recline to about 45 degrees for sleeping. 2nd class seats are the recommended option on trains with no 1st class. 3rd class se ats, available on most 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.

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Above : The view from the morning Kandy to Colombo train Photo courtesy of Nicola David.

Train times...
Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Badulla Colombo - Galle - Matara Colombo - Polonnaruwa & Trincomalee Colombo - Anuradhapura - Vavunia The timetables on this page show the principal trains on the most popular routes. There are many other trains, stations and rail routes in Sri Lanka, but note that trains no longer operate to Jaffna or Talaimannar. You can check routes and train times at the new Sri Lanka Railways website, www.railway.gov.lk, or in the Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable. There is also train information at www.slrfc.org/srilanka-railways-time-table.html or http://colombofort.com or www.reddottours.com. If you visit Sri Lanka, feedback would be appreciated!

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You cannot book online, but it's easy to buy tickets when you get to Sri Lanka, there is a special ticket window for tourists at Colombo Fort station. Reservations for trains with reserved seating such as InterCity Expre ss trains open 10-14 days in advance. Other trains (shown as having 'unreserved' seats) don't require a reservation, you just buy a ticket on and hop on. Seats in the 1st class observation car from Colombo to Kandy can get fully-booked from time to time, so book a few days ahead if you can, but you may well find seats available on the day of travel. If you really want to pre-book a train before you get to Sri Lanka, and are prepared to pay a booking fee, try contacting a local travel agency (and let me know if you find a good one!) or even asking your hotel to arrange tickets for you. If you want to book some hotels or tours as well as train tickets, reputable agency www.reddottours.com will book train tickets for you if you're also booking 300 or more of other tours and accommodation with them.

Above : Two views of Colombo Fort Station. Photos courtesy of Paul White .

Can you help improve this page?

If you have comments, suggestions, more information or photos that might improve this page and help fellow travellers, please e-mail me!

2z6

7.10.2011 18:59

How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm

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Colombo - Kandy - Badulla

This scenic train ride is the way to reach Kandy, 121 km by rail from Colombo, or the hill station at Nuwara Eliya. The ride onwards to Badulla, into the hill country, is also wonderful, and probably the best train ride in Sri Lanka. Travel in the 1st class observation car is recommended, and if possible on an InterCity Express train.

Colombo Kandy Nuwara Eliya Badulla

Km 0 Colombo (Fort) depart: 121 Kandy arrive: 121 Kandy depart: 246 Haputale arrive: 292 Badulla arrive: * This train is the PODI MENIKE. Notes: 3 03:30 11:49 14:10 O,2,3,R * 05:55 | | 12:27 14:07 15:55 ICE 07:00 09:34 O,2,3,R ** 09:30 | | 15:25 17:02 18:55 2,3 2,3 ICE 2,3 2,3 Sleeper 20:00 | | 03:21 05:05 07:10 10:35 12:40 15:35 16:35 17:45 13:52 15:58 18:08 19:42 20:58 -

207 Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) arrive: 09:33

** This train is the UDARATA MENIKE.

ICE = InterCity Express, with 1st class observation car with reserved seats, 2nd & 3rd class reserved seats. Sleeper = NIGHT MAIL, with 1st class sleepers (lockable 2-berth compartments), 2nd & 3rd class reserved sleeperettes (reclining seats), 2nd & 3rd unreserved seats, buffet car. O = 1st class observation car with reserved seats. 2 = unreserved 2nd class seats. 3 = unreserved 3rd class seats. R = buffet/restaurant car.

You can check train times using the official Sri Lanka Railways website, www.railway.gov.lk, but please check all times locally. Nuw ara Eliya ('City of lights') is a colonial hill station 2,000 metres above sea level, surrounded by tea plantations It's easy to reach by train. The station is Nanu Oya, 6 km from central Nuwara Eliya, with plenty of taxis and auto-rickshaws available. It's also possible to walk.

Badulla Nuwara Eliya Kandy Colombo

Notes: 2,3,R Badulla depart: Haputale depart: Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya) depart: Kandy arrive: Kandy depart: Colombo (Fort) arrive: ICE 2,3 O,2,3,R ** 05:45 07:48 09:27 | | 15:40 ICE 2,3 O,2,3,R * 08:50 10:51 12:27 | | 19:28 3 12:00 14:38 16:58 21:38 Sleeper 18:20 20:33 22:33 02:36 02:36 05:15

05:00 06:10 06:30 08:17 08:47 09:47

15:00 15:30 17:38 18:55

Fares
One-way adult fares.. 3rd class reserved seat 2nd class reserved seat 1st class observation car 1st class sleeper -

Colombo-Kandy by InterCity Express Rs.150 (1/$2) Colombo-Kandy by normal train Colombo-Badulla Rs.270 (2/$3)

Rs.220 (1/$2) Rs. 360 (2/ $3) Rs. 360 (2/ $3) Rs.450 (3/$5) Rs. 750 (5/ $7) Rs. 750 (5/ $7)

Rs.105 (50p/$1) Rs.190 (1/$2) -

Traveller's report...
Trave lle r Grae me Thorle y re por ts "I thought the observation car to Kandy was okay although it requires you to travel backwards (in my case at least) which is not to everyone's taste. It also got incredibly hot (36C at one point) due to the large window and there were only a limited number of seats that had a really good view. Rather irritatingly on my outbound trip two of these were occupied by people who slept for most of the trip..! The other point is that the carriage was occupied almost entirely by Westerners - this might be considered a good thing but personally I felt it left me more remote from the travelling experience. On the train to Anaradhapura several locals stopped to chat, practise their English, exchange complaints about the delays etc. I also bumped into one of the families I had met on the train whilst sightseeing (they recognised me) and we had another chat. I find that sort of thing an important part of travelling." Trave lle r Paul White re por ts "Dont panic if you cant get a ticket for the 1st class air conditioned trains to Kandy. 2nd class is more than adequate, but do try & get a window seat. The best side to sit on for scenery is the right hand side as you face forward from Colombo to Kandy, as this will give you the best views once you get past Rambukkana. Do be brave and try the food on the trains! Many vendors will wander up and down selling cold drinks, fruit, spicy snacks and so on at reasonable prices." Also see www.bootsnall.com for a good account of this trip...

3z6

7.10.2011 18:59

How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm

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Above : Travelling by train in Sri Lanka is a great way to see the scenery...

Above : The 1st class observation car, at the rear of the train, with window looking back along the track.

The photos above courtesy of Bill Wood of Massachusetts. A visit to Bill Woods website, www.billwood.com, is highly
recommended to see more photos of this journey.

Above : The Colombo-Kandy 1st class observation car at Colombo Fort. Photo courtesy of Graeme

Ordinary 2nd class seats on a Sri Lankan train. Photo

Thorley

courtesy of Ciao Monteiro

Thank you for visiting my site...

Above : On the train to Kandy. Photo courtesy of Marilyn

Le Ruyet

Looking back along the track from the 1st class observation car. Photo courtesy of Marilyn Le Ruyet

Colombo - Galle - Matara

A great way to reach the cities of Galle and Matara, by train along the coast... 2nd class is the recommended option, as 3rd class gets too crowded. The Colombo-Galle fare is only about Rs.65 (0.50/$1) one-way in 2nd class for the 116 km. Colombo to Matara is about Rs.90 2nd class.

Colombo Galle Matara

Km 0 2 Notes: Colombo (Fort) depart: 2,3 2,3 2,3 2,3 2,3 Mon-Fri, 2,3 16:40 16:46 19:13 20:25 3 17:20 17:25 20:05 Mon-Fri, 3 Sat, Sun, 3 17:50 18:00 20:38 21:53 17:50 17:55 21:26 3 18:45 19:30 22:55 Colombo (Maradana) depart: 06:30 13:40 15:40

06:55 08:35 10:30 14:05 15:50 09:48 11:18 13:02 16:46 17:47 11:07 12:20 14:17 18:08 18:40

116 Galle arrive: 159 Matara arrive:

There's no 1st class on this route. Unless shown otherwise, trains run every day. 2 = unreserved 2nd class seats; 3 = unreserved 3rd class seats;

You can check train times using the official Sri Lanka Railways website, www.railway.gov.lk, but double-check train times locally.

Matara Galle Colombo

Notes: Mon-Fri, 3 Sat, Sun 3 Matara depart: Galle depart: Colombo (Fort) arrive: Colombo (Maradana) arrive: 03:30 07:00 07:07 04:15 07:46 07:51 3 05:00 07:47 07:54 Mon-Fri 2,3 04:35 05:35 08:13 08:20 2,3 2,3 Mon-Sat, 3 09:00 13:02 13:35 2,3 09:55 10:55 13:20 Sunday 2,3 13:45 16:34 16:40 2,3 14:25 15:45 18:37 18:45 05:55 06:10 06:45 07:30 08:50 10:05 08:56 10:12

Fares

4z6

7.10.2011 18:59

How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm

One-way adult fares.. Colombo - Matara

3rd class reserved seat

2nd class reserved seat

1st class seat -

Rs.130 (1/$1) Rs.230 (1/$2)

Colombo - Trincomalee / Polonnaruwa

2nd class is recommended on this route, as 3rd class is too crowded. The Colombo-Trincomalee is 296 km.

Colombo Trincomalee
Km Daily: 0 227 Galoya arrive/depart: 260 Polonnaruwa arrive: 350 Batticaloa arrive: 296 Trincomalee arrive: 2,3,R 2,3 Sleeper Sleeper 19:15 00:30 01:34 04:00 21:00 02:54 | | 05:10 Colombo (Fort) depart: 06:10 (06:10) 11:19 15:30 12:08 14:20 | | 17:20

Trincomalee Colombo
Daily: Trincomalee depart: Batticaloa depart: Polonnaruwa depart: Galoya depart:: 2,3 07:00 | | 2,3,R Sleeper Sleeper 07:15 | 19:30 | | 21:55 04:05 20:15 22:25 23:20 04:52

08:50 10:15

Colombo (Fort) arrive: (15:25) 15:25

(06:10) = Depart Colombo 06:10, arrive Galoya 11:19, change trains, depart Galoya 15:30 for Trincomalee. (15:25) = Arrive Colombo at 15:25, having changed at Galoya, arrive 08:50, depart 10:15. ICE = InterCity Express. On this route ICEs have 2nd & 3rd class reserved seats & buffet car, plus a first class reserved seat car. Sleeper = 1st class sleepers (2-berth compartments), 2nd & 3rd class reserved sleeperettes (reclining seats), 2nd & 3rd unreserved seats, buffet car. You can check train times using the official Sri Lanka Railways website, www.railway.gov.lk, but please double-check all train times locally.

Fares
One-way adult fares Colombo-Trincomalee Colombo-Batticaloa 3rd class reserved seat 2nd class reserved seat 1st class sleeper berth

Rs.205 (1/$2) Rs.370 (2/$3) Rs. 750 (5/ $7) Rs.230 (2/$2) Rs.420 (3/$5) Rs. 900 (6/ $9)

Colombo-Batticaloa by ICE Rs.320 (2/$3) Rs.500 (3/$5) Rs. 900 (6/ $9)

Colombo - Anuradhapura - Vavunia...

Trains link Colombo with Anuradhapura and Vavunia. However, since 1990 trains no longer operate as far as Jaffna or Talaimannar Pier (previously the ferry terminal for India) because of the security problems in that area.

Colombo Vavunia
Km Daily: 0 2,3 2,3 2,3 ICE Sleeper 20:30 01:29 03:00 Colombo (Fort) depart: 05:45 10:40 13:45 16:20 10:58 20:11 21:16

Vavunia Colombo
Daily: Vavunia depart: 2,3 ICE 2,3 2,3 14:30 Sleeper 22:00 23:30 04:35 03:20 05:45

205 Anuradhapura arr/dep: 09:35 16:20 18:37 20:06 254 Vavunia arrive:

Anuradhapura arr/dep: 05:00 06:40 09:10 15:35 Colombo (Fort) arrive: 10:08 10:20 15:05 19:20

ICE = InterCity Express. On this route ICEs have 2nd & 3rd class reserved seats & buffet car. The 16:20 from Colombo & the 05:45 from Vavunia also have a 1st class air-conditioned car with reserved seats. Sleeper = NIGHT MAIL, with 1st class sleepers (2-berth compartments), 2nd & 3rd class reserved sleeperettes (reclining seats), 2nd & 3rd unreserved seats, buffet. 1 = 1st class air-conditioned seats car with reserved seats; 2 = unreserved 2nd class seats; 3 = unreserved 3rd class seats; R = buffet/restaurant car;

You can check train times using the official Sri Lanka Railways website, www.railway.gov.lk.

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Guidebooks... Recommended guidebooks...

To get the best from Sri Lanka, you'll need a good guidebook. For independent trave llers, the best guides are probably either the Rough Guides or Lonely Planets. Buy Rough Guide to Sri Lanka online at Amazon.co.uk

5z6

7.10.2011 18:59

How to travel by train in Sri Lanka | Train times, fares, information

http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm

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Other hotel sites worth a look...

www.tripadvisor.com is a huge resource, a good place to browse independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels. www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a booking site comparison system). It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

Flights...
Overland travel by train & bus around Sri Lanka is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground! But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Sri Lanka in the first place. For flights to Colombo, start with www.ebookers.com. Seat61 gets a small commission through this link.

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6z6

7.10.2011 18:59