Hikkaduwa train timetable. By train in Sri Lanka - a journey of unforgettable beauty
Sooner or later, being in mountainous areas Sri Lanka, you will have to go to any other side :) You will want new adventures!
And the only adequate way to do this is by train. And already at the very beginning of this "escape", you will understand that the train itself is already an adventure.
But first, you will pay attention to the details. 'Cause every little thing here is nothing you've ever seen.
At the time when we had to leave, we were in Nuwara Eliya, and the nearest railway station to it is a few kilometers away:
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This railway station is called "Nanu-Oya". By the name of the locality. The sign even, for some reason, says that you are at an altitude of 1623 meters above sea level :)
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Throughout the space at the station, while waiting for the train, you can walk freely. If you want to walk on rails - please. Do you want to learn the mechanisms of arrows? Please:)
Meanwhile, you have a view of the tea plantations:
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Waiting hall:)
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And now the shock and sensation))) You won't believe it, but the dark green building in the photo, no less, is the Nanu-Oya Railway Institute! :)))
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Wagons are standing. In them, if desired, you can climb. The wagons are obviously beaten by time. The trademark red paint of the Sri Lankan trains has faded to brown.
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Passengers in the waiting room:
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Train arrival. Almost like at the end of the 19th century :)
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On the train, everyone quickly takes their seats, and some people who come from nowhere offer incomprehensible food:
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The 2nd class carriage is very simple:
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There's even a restaurant car! I would not risk buying food there))) But cookies and some water - you can:
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The last carriage is 1st class. You won’t get into it just like that - the through doors to it from other cars are blocked. I climbed into it on the move along the outside of the train))) But I will tell about this in the next photo report.
The most main feature 1st class - this is a chic viewing glass.
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It is very cool to watch through it the life of ordinary people:
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Like us - you can buy pies from your grandmother young man at the station:
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And this is business class. Trailer car of a private company. To get into it, you have to be either white or in a suit :) If a ticket to the second class cost some ridiculous 5-10 Russian rubles, then to a business class it cost prohibitive for locals, but still ridiculous for us 200- 300 rubles:)
When the conductor, who looked more like the son of one of the employees of a private railway company, realized that we were unpretentious guests and there was no need to jump with a tambourine around us, he relaxed, removed the seats from the seats and lay down on the floor to sleep))) Sri- Lanka is so spontaneous and funny)))
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The whole arrangement of Sri Lankan trains allows you to take pictures in all directions. Including oncoming trains. For example, a stylish locomotive:
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And positive drivers can also be photographed:
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On the way from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy, you even have to change trains! Transfer is carried out at the station "Peradeniya".
Now everyone is transferring to the "new" and faceless station. But exactly opposite they kept (!) the old station, from the times of English Ceylon. Year of construction - shaggy 1867!
By the way, all the railways of Ceylon went to Sri Lanka from the British. No one else built new roads, the old ones were not updated. But it is worth paying tribute to the Sri Lankans - what they have is kept as carefully as possible. The English have been gone for half a century, but look at how good this ancient station is:
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Trains run daily, in some areas even many times a day. The country is developing private railway transportation.
And in Kandy, a themed wagon was even spotted! By the way, pay attention to the station in Kandy - the beauty remained from the British:
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That's all for now. I love railways - I couldn't help but show it. I promise it will be better next time ;)
How do you like the local railroad? Do you love railroads? What are your favorite railroads?
Do you work between May holidays and dream of a long vacation without work breaks? :) Or are you relaxing and at the same time continue to read LJ? :)
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Sri Lanka big Island, with an area of 65,000 km² with a penny. Almost the same size as Lithuania or Georgia. The mileage from north to south is 445 km, from west to east - 225 km.
The main part of the territory is occupied by coastal lowlands. central part country is called Up Country because it is Mountain landscape. The most big peak- Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m).
Initially, we decided to travel throughout this territory. See north, south and center. Both Down Country and Up Country. Mountains, beaches, and jungles.
Some part, in the end, we managed to see. Not as global as we swung, but still we got a lot of impressions and useful experience. For example, we learned how it is convenient to get from point A to point B.
For those who can afford to rent a car - everything is simple. There are no problems with this in Lanka.
On a budget, you can travel around the island by bus or train.
The fare here costs, one might say, a penny, compared to our prices. (for example, we traveled in the second class from Gampola to Nanuoyyu 80 km, 3.5 hours for only 46 rupees per person. This is 10 UAH or 25 rubles) Therefore, Sri Lankans can easily afford to travel around their country. Many travel to work and school by train. Because it is convenient and fast transport.
Traveling by bus is sometimes faster, sometimes it is necessary if there are no rails in this area. Buses in Lanka are a special topic. I will write about this separately.
And in this article we will talk about Sri Lankan trains.
Sri Lanka Railway. Useful facts
The Sri Lanka Railway includes nine lines. All lines converge to Central Station- Colombo Fort.
1. Coastal Railway Line (Colombo Fort to Mathra, work in progress to extended upto katharagama)
2. Kalani Velley Railway Line(Colombo Fort to Avissavella)
3. Main Railway Line (Currently only Colombo fort to Kilinochichi, soon to be upto Kan Kasanthurei)
4. Upcountry Railway Line (Colombo fort to Badulla)
5. Puttalam Railway Line (Colombo Fort to Puttalam)
6. Mathale Railway Line (Peradaniya Junction to Mathale)
7. Batticalo Railway Line (Maho to Batticola)
8. Trinco Railway Line (Galoya Junction to Trincomalee)
9. Mannar Line (Medawachchiya to Mannar)
In order to find out the schedule, you can download an android application called Sri Lanka Railway Schedule. Or online at this link. There, at the same time, you will find out the mileage and how many hours you have to go. There used to be prices, but now for some reason this function has been removed.
From the picture, you can see where each line starts and ends, and which line it intersects with. Using it, you can figure out where you need to make transfers in order to get to the right place.
Train types
For very long distance there are special high-speed night trains with berths.
The most common are seat-only trains.
There are long-distance trains with 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cars.
There are trains with 2nd and 3rd class cars.
And very small dumb trains with carriages exclusively of the 3rd class. This is for short distances.
wagons
1st class, sleeping. 1st class sleeper available on several night trains. Compartment for 2 people, closes, the compartment has a toilet and a washbasin. Bedding is provided.
1st class, overview. 1st class carriage, survey. It is available on the best daytime trains at amazing beautiful route from Colombo to Kandy and Baddulla.
1st class, air-conditioned, seating. There are only one or two InterCity trains Express between Colombo, Vavuniya and Batticaloa.
We did not travel in first class, because tickets for it are purchased in advance, reserved. This is done either at the box office at the Colombo station, or on the Internet. Somehow it was all too confused, Therefore, I will not talk about what I do not know. When I find out, I will definitely write.
2nd class there are with reserved seats and non-reserved. These wagons are separate. That is, one or a couple of wagons are specially allocated for those who reserved seats. Usually these cars are not marked in any way. Therefore, you need to search by trial and error.
To buy a ticket with a reserved seat, you also need to either buy it at the box office in Colombo or on the Internet. Therefore, if you buy a 2nd class train ticket for today and this does not happen in Colombo, then know that you will get into a car with non-reserved seats, and if you are not smart enough, you will most likely have to ride standing up.
The second class carriages look pretty decent inside. there are two good, clean toilets. Seats for two people are located one behind the other. The seats are soft, large, comfortable, and, in my opinion, adjustable.
3rd grade - the most popular among the Sri Lankans. Inside is different. Or like in our subway cars. Long benches along the walls. Sometimes solid, sometimes sheathed. It happens that the seats for 2-3 places are located in pairs, opposite each other.
These carriages are usually very crowded and not as clean as in the 2nd class, but not dirty either. It is always cool in such carriages, the train travels quickly, with open windows and doors.
This photo shows an almost empty car. Often the cars are so packed that people hang out of the doors. And the doors are always open unless it's raining. Nobody really cares. Common daily practice. We also liked to ride near the doors. It's cool and you can see the views.
Someone goes to work in a suit, white shirt and polished shoes. Someone goes to school, to college, just goes about his business. It doesn't matter how someone is dressed. Everyone squeezes into the train at lightning speed, overtaking and shoving, just like in our public transport, only even faster. It was the case that some especially cunning people climbed into the windows to take their seats.
Here, as in our metro, beggars, then sellers of food, all kinds of books, bags walk around the cars. Perfect place to earn extra money.
Often there are musicians with drums. And they just play without asking for money. They look decent. I just like to play, I guess)
Tourists rarely travel third class. But we tried it on purpose, because we wanted to see how the local people live. And we liked it. Then they usually traveled for short distances in third class. Sri Lankan passengers always looked at us as if they were aliens)) They looked at us, sometimes even gave way.
Stations
In small towns, stations are the simplest. Cashier's booth and a canopy with a bench. And one platform.
Where there are more platforms, it is necessary to specify in which direction and from which platform your train will depart right now. There are no signs on the trains, everything is announced in Sri Lankan, so it’s very difficult to guess yourself. You can ask special person or the ticket collector. Sometimes one of those waiting can come up to you and ask where you need to and explain everything) Sri Lankans are contact people. They are very interested in communicating with pale-faced people.
At large stations, for example, in Colombo Fort, there are a lot of platforms and you need to get to them along the transition at the top. It is better to arrive in advance and check with several people where your train arrives. If everyone says the same thing, then you're in the right place!
Tickets
Their tickets are very funny. Such rectangular cardboard cards, where the direction, class and price are printed. At the entrance and in the cars, tickets are not checked (except for reserved tickets). There are no controllers. But when you arrive, an uncle stands at the exit from the station and picks up the tickets. If you lost or didn't buy, there will be a fine.
Which train and class to choose
Traveling around Sri Lanka by train is very convenient and fast. And not as hot and noisy as the bus.
If you need to travel more than 8 hours, then of course it is better to choose a high-speed night Train with sleeping quarters.
For scenic routes (any route in the mountains or Coastal Line, along the coast), it is better to take a ticket with a reserved seat in the second class, or in the first class. Because the mountain and coastal routes are breathtakingly beautiful and worth admiring in comfort.
You can easily overcome a short distance in the third class. The rush hour is usually in the morning from 6 to 10 and in the evening until 19, and the rest of the time there are not so many people.
Galle - big seaport in Sri Lanka, with a population of 100,000 people. The history of the appearance, once the main water gates of the country, is quite interesting. Firstly, the name of the city "Galle" is not local, but Portuguese, and is translated as a rooster. It all started back in 1505, when a merchant ship with Portuguese sailors on board was shipwrecked. From the morning of the next morning, the team realized that they were on a previously unexplored land. AND the only proof habitability of the area, was the cock crow. Here, as it often happens, because of the ridiculously said words, a whole exciting story was born.
Galle on the map of Sri Lanka
Fort Galle
The main attraction of the city is the fort, which was built over 150 years. The first stone was laid by the Portuguese as soon as they realized what advantageous terrain they had discovered. The location is simply wonderful and advantageous for ships sailing to the road far to the east, which call at the port for additional trade and replenishment of food and water. But, this situation was appreciated not only by the Portuguese, but also by the Dutch. Having conquered the fort in 1640, they began to reconstruct and complete the fortification at their discretion. So, in 1663 the building took its final form, which we see today.
Galle Hotels
In the fort itself there are a huge number of hotels ready to offer you accommodation and a good level of comfort. It cannot be said that housing prices will please you, but if, nevertheless, for some reason you need to stay in this city for the night, then you should look for an ordinary guest house. Prices in guest houses start from $20 per night, from beautiful view, from 80 c.u.
Beach
There is nothing to write about for a long time. The sight is dull, although it would seem that the city is located on the very coast, but the beach is dirty, not well maintained, with heaps of garbage. Only local youth coming here will rinse in the sea, right in all the clothes that this moment dressed in them.
Trains in Sri Lanka: timetable, map
For traveling long distances local population actively uses mainly two modes of transport - buses and railways. The total length of railway lines in the country is 1447 km.
The railway, like buses, is a very inexpensive and popular mode of transport in Sri Lanka. There are only three types 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 can be express or local- the speeds of these types of trains are different and short cut, which takes 1.5 hours on an express train, it can take 3 hours on a local train. But there are pluses - local trains stop at all stations, and express trains often pass by small railway stations.
Map of railway lines of Sri Lanka
Full scheme railway lines islands of Sri Lanka. Rail 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), Pinnawala (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 Colombo, most can be reached 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 railway lines of Sri Lanka in a new tab.
Sri Lanka Railways Online Map
When planning a trip to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, remember that the railway 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 time of trains at peripheral stations: trains can not only be late, but also arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Plan this time for waiting in order to avoid unpleasant situations.
Directions of the railway lines of Sri Lanka
- Colombo - Matara (southwest), goes along the entire popular tourist resort southwest coast to Matara. A branch to Kataragama (next to Yala Park) involving resorts such as Dikwella and Tangalle is planned but not yet completed. For 2019, the section Matara - Beliatta (south) was opened, which runs along south coast island, is the first segment of the road Matara - Kataragama.
- Colombo - Puttalam (northwest), the branch runs along the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka, passing through the resort towns of Negombo, Marawila, Chilaw. Close to Puttalam there is a kite surfing resort village Kalpitiya.
- Colombo - Avissawella (center) relatively short railway line towards the center of the island.
- 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.
- Colombo - Mannar (North) goes to the northwestern part of the country, along the Mannar Peninsula, from which the Adam's Bridge begins (a chain of islands to Indian city Rameshwaram).
- Colombo - Mihintale (north-central part) in the direction to 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.
- Colombo - Badulla (center) 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 path is famous for its landscapes (mountains, tea plantations), Hatton (Adam's Peak), part of the path runs through national park Horton Plains, the cities of Bandarawella, Ella (mountains, waterfalls, plantations), Demodara (Ella-Demodara bridge), to Badulla.
- Colombo - Matali (center) the railway branch goes to the center of the country, a popular tourist destination, 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 elephant nursery Pinnavelu (Rambukkana).
- 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 Avukan and Khabaran (tree houses) is located.
- Colombo - Batticaloa (east) runs through the center of the country, to the northeast of the island, separates from the line to Trincomalee at Gal Oya and ends at Batticaloa. Popular with tourists traveling to resort towns Kalkud and Passikuda.
Train transfer stations
The junction stations connecting the railway branches are mostly completely small towns, this should be taken into account when planning a route.
Railways Sri Lanka has earned the trust of passengers. They provide uninterrupted communication between different settlements of the country. locals prefer to travel by train and bus. The approximate length of the country's railway is 1447 km. Trains run according to the schedule, without delays and disruptions.
Features of the Sri Lankan railway system
In Sri Lanka, the quality of rail service is big influence natural factors, such as alluviums and blockages. However, trains are considered the most reliable means of getting around the country, as are buses. The railway system is managed by the national company Sri Lanka Railways (SLR). This organization is the sole owner of the state railways. Main rail line road goes through the center of the country and connects popular centers of tourism.
The railway network of Sri Lanka has 9 lines and the main station Colombo Fort. Train schedules are available on the Sri Lanka Railways website - www.railway.gov.lk. Intensive rail service is maintained between major cities. From the main station in Colombo, trains follow to Negambo, Kandy, Bentota, Polonnaruwa and others settlements. The disadvantage of the railway system is the insufficient number of trains. They run quite infrequently. For example, on the Colombo - Kandy line, 5 railway trains move per day. Comfortable conditions are maintained for passengers branded trains.
Routes and tickets
All Sri Lankan trains passing through Colombo make a connection there. Passengers have to transfer. A feature of the railway communication is the frequent delays of trains. The trains use the division of seats into three classes. To borrow Right place, the ticket must be booked well in advance of the intended trip. On many routes, trains are overcrowded. The fare depends on the route and class. Tickets for first class seats are more expensive. In first class, passengers are offered comfortable sleeping accommodations and Additional services. In the second and third class, the level of comfort is much lower.
Sri Lanka has excursion routes for tourists. They run trains that belong to private individuals. Railway transport perfect for sightseeing trips over long distances. It is cheap and allows you to see the country. A trip from Colombo to the farthest station will cost approximately 300 rupees.
