Sri Lanka - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on services at dates noted in entries, but understood to still be current.

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.

Obscure services

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.

Other Sparse Services

The following lines have few trains (although others may not be much more frequent) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday. The printed timetable does not display table numbers.

Table	Route	Notes
	Medawachchiya - Talaimannar Pier	One pair daily worked from Talaimannar Pier end
	Galoya Junction - Trincomalee
	Kosgama - Avissawella	Note this is a "with the flow" commuter service to/from Colombo so it is impossible to complete a day return over the full line from Colombo
	Puttalam - Noor Nagar

Deletions since last edition

None.