Rail transport in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Railway

The railway routes of Sri Lanka do not shine with a special variety, it is much faster and more comfortable to travel around the country by bus. But there is one case when it is worth sacrificing comfort and using the services of the ShZD, do not worry, bewitching mountain scenery won't let you regret it for a minute.

Of course, you shouldn’t be too fanatic about trains, unless you are traveling first class, otherwise, you run the risk of not weakly tiring your body. We will start our journey from Bandarawela station and move towards Nuwara Eliya, after a short stop we will go further to Kandy.

This is what a typical one looks like railroad station, looks like a train station in some unnamed town in the Wild West, except that the lush vegetation and the absence of Clint Eastwood are a little embarrassing:

The interior is very ascetic: ticket offices (open half an hour or an hour before the train arrives), a controller and a board with a schedule:

Carefully placed railings will not let you get lost on the way to the checkout:

After each train departure, a new schedule is manually hung on the scoreboard and the departure time is set:

Each station has a chief, he can be recognized by his white uniform and concentrated look:

Well, let's go to consider this very mountainous Sri Lanka:

Our train is climbing:

In direct proportion to this, the number of tea plantations increases:

Waterfalls are often found in the mountains:

Sri Lanka is an agricultural country, and if the coast of the island is an all-Lankan health resort, then mountainous areas can be safely called a granary, all food is grown here:

Cabbage, carrots, potatoes...

To irrigate the fields, small reservoirs are built:

There is a place in the mountains landscape design, for the convenience of growing, the following terraces are cut:

A special charm to the route adds a considerable number of tunnels:

And the carbon monoxide that spreads in them:

There are beautiful narrow tunnels, but keep yourself in control and do not lose your head:

Do not deny the pleasure of feeling like a hare:

True, it happens that all the places are occupied by others:

By the way, about hares, they are caught by conductors in the form of people's commissars, who check the availability of a ticket and its compliance with the social class.

After checking the ticket, do not rush to get rid of it, there is another degree of protection, the ticket must be returned at the exit from the station:

In case of loss, you will need to pay a penalty for the loss of inventory:

Trains are very often late, especially in the mountains, this is due to the wear and tear of the railway floor, which is in a state of permanent repair. Here you can drive and drive, and then stop for 30 minutes and wait until the repair work on this section is completed, although, most likely, they will simply lay rails for you, so that they can be immediately dismantled:

Beautiful floor of Sri Lankan trains:

Staying hungry on the train is very difficult, food vendors run regularly.

Almost all railway routes- single track:

Therefore, at the stations you often have to wait for an oncoming train to pass each other:

Specific arrow translation:

Road to Kandy:

By the way, there is no direct train to Kandy, you will need to change at the Peradeniya station, the ticket is the same.

Now let's talk a little about classes, there are three classes on long-haul flights: 3, 1, 2. On different trains, first class can be: a sleeping compartment (for two people), a seated compartment, with air conditioning in the car or with a preliminary seat reservation. The second class is usually seated, with fans and without prior seat reservation (recommended for short trips, no more than 2-3 hours). Third class - seats with a huge number of local people in the car.

The cost of each class is almost twice as high as the previous one.

This is what the second class carriage of the Colombo-Kandy train looks like:

And this is the second class Negombo-Colombo carriage:

Good luck and smooth rails!

Sri Lanka Railways 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.

IN railway network 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. Rail transport is 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.

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.

Railway, like buses, in Sri Lanka are a very inexpensive and popular mode of transport. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Colombo - Avissawella (center) 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 the Adam's Bridge begins (a chain of islands to Indian city Rameshwaram).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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).
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 Avukan and Khabaran (tree houses) is located.
10. 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.

Sri Lanka has excellent public transport!

The most common and budgetary are Trains, Tuk-tuks and Buses.

Of course, no one canceled the opportunity to rent a car or motorcycle.
Motorcycles are very popular here.

But driving in Sri Lanka is very difficult because of the local driving culture.
Everyone goes as they want and where they want.

The site is quite confusing.
Therefore, I will try to tell, briefly, what's what.

Here is the railway station in Kandy city.

Inside, as in any other station, there is a ticket office. There you can find out about any train and fares for every taste.

Everyone is waiting for the train on the platform

From the center of Sri Lanka, Colombo, you can get to any end point no more than 380 rupees.
This is equal to approximately 95 Russian rubles.

Passengers have the opportunity to choose a class of carriage with a suitable level of comfort.

The closer to the end of the train, the better and more comfortable the cars.
Below is a table with the fare, based on the class of the car.

As well as a map of train routes between cities.

In the mountains where I went, there is only one track, i.e. there is practically no chance to cross with an oncoming train. Only if at the stations.

I had bought in advance the most comfortable places. Their cost was equal to 1250 rupees, or about 300 rubles.

Only one such car was located at the very end of the train.

Everything in the car was amazing!

1) Comfortable seats with all kinds of adjustments, a footrest and a table.
The seat can be rotated in the direction of the train by pressing a special lever.

2) Air conditioner
3) Several LCD TVs
4) Pleasant LED ceiling lighting
5) Sockets for 220 volts

In general, the comfort was everything you need!

My end station was small town Ella, located high in the mountains.

The length of the path is 180-200 km. It took about 7 hours to cover this distance.
Yes, so long.

All because the road passes through picturesque mountains, tunnels and plains of Sri Lanka.
The maximum speed of the train was 20-30 km/h. And in some places 5-10 km / h.

But I was not at all tired on the way.

Not only was it comfortable in the carriage, but the view outside the window was incredibly beautiful!
Sometimes the view from the window blew my mind!

At first there was a little rain, and it was overcast.

At the stations, trains stop for a short time.
There is a maximum of 5 minutes to enter the car. Or even less.

Along the way, every 5 minutes you could see small waterfalls.

As well as mountain rivers.

Tea plantations accompanied me all the way!

Sometimes the train passed along picturesque highways.

Slowly rising above the clouds, the train was enveloped in fog!

Then the bright sun came out! There was no end to the plantations!

The train now and then climbed the mountain, descended, skirted them on the side. It was like some kind of attraction!

At times it felt like I was on a cliff. And the train is about to fall into the abyss. But no. All OK.

Periodically, the train passed through the mountain tunnels!
Insanely cool!

I suggest just look at this incredible beauty of nature!

We drove very beautiful waterfall far away.

The train has controllers that keep order so that no one breaks the rules, does not try to move from a cheaper car to a more expensive and comfortable one.

In general, as in any other country.

So, having reached the town of Ella, it was already completely dark. It was about 19 pm.

This is the end of my train journey! It was comfortable and unimaginably beautiful!
I can safely say that this is the most amazing train journey in my life!!!

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 evidence 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.