Sri Lanka
Country details
See Wikipedia
National railway system
The national railway operator is Sri Lanka Railways (SLR).
Infrastructure
- Gauge: 1676 mm (5 foot 6 inches)
- Electrification: none
- Rule of the road: left
Maps
There are no known printed maps.
Online maps are available at:
Timetable
Extensive information is available at the Man in Seat 61.
- Journey planner: SLR website (English language)
- Downloadable timetable: none known
- Printed timetable: a printed timetable was available at ticket offices in 2017/18 costing Rs 150/-. It is not known whether this is still published as of 2023.
- Engineering information: long-term engineering works may be reported as news on the front page of the SLR website.
Other railways
The line north from Noor Nagar (terminus of passenger services from Colombo via Puttalam) is privately owned and freight only.
Tourist railways
None known.
Metro and light rail systems
None. A light rail system may be constructed in Colombo.
Recent and Future Changes
Recent Changes
Work to renovate the 59 km from Maradana to Avissawella, on the Kelani Valley line, was launched on 7 September 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2 years.
Train operations from Colombo to Jaffna were due to resume from the 15 July 2023, after closure on 5 January 2023, for modernisation of the railway track between Anuradhapura and Omanthai, under Maho-Omanthai Railway Development project.
Future Changes
The rehabilitation of 128 km of the Maho to Omanthai railway route, on the Northern Line, is taking place in four phases over 3 years. Two phases have now been completed with final completion target of 31 December 2023.
Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services
An online journey planner is available. A timetable derived from the official SLR website at January 2023 can be found (by subscribers to the WRG group) at this link. Some services are suspended - as indicated where known.
Peradeniya Junction Station avoiding line: West [Colombo end] - South [Badulla end] LK1
Two through trains each way daily Colombo ⇔ Badulla, not timed to run via Kandy, use the avoiding line and are scheduled to stop at the station. As the operational platforms are at the Kandy (east) apex of the triangle, such trains reverse ⇔ South junction to reach a platform. A platform on the avoiding line itself is not in regular use. Report updated: February 2023
[Anuradhapura - ] Mihintale Junction - Mihintale LK2
This 13km long branch may be used by specials for the Vesak and Poson Buddhist festivals, of which the dates are linked to full moons in May/June each year. Pre-covid practice suggests that only the Poson festival attracted trains. Check the online journey planner. Prior booking is required. The railway's website may give advance details - or enquire locally. Report updated: August 2024
Puttalam - Nooranagar LK3
Entry deleted - has regular (albeit infrequent!) service.
