Gallery
Rail was introduced in Sri Lanka in 1864 to transport coffee from plantations in the hill country district
of Kandy to the port city of Colombo
on its way to Europe and the world market. The coffee blight of 1871 destroyed many a fine plantation and
tea replaced coffee.
With the development of tea plantations in the 1880s, the joint-stock companies swallowed up the former
individual proprietorship of the coffee era.
Under corporate ownership and management control by companies, the process of production of tea became more
sophisticated and needed more and more
railways built to the Kandyan highlands. To send tea to Colombo and to transport labour, machinery, manure,
rice, and foodstuff, etc to Kandy,
another 100 miles of railways were constructed in the tea planting districts to serve the expanding tea
domain.
To serve the coconut plantations flourishing in the west, southwest and northwest coastal areas of the
country, and the wet inland
rubber plantations below the tea belt, railway lines were built in the wake of these agricultural
developments.
Thereafter, the need for cheap and safe travel in order to open up the hinterland of the country led to the
expansion of the railway.
An extension of the Main Line to Kandy was made north to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, going further
north to Kankesanturai and west to
Talaimannar to connect the island with South India by ferry, to bring Indian labour for the tea and rubber
plantations, and also import rice and
other food stuffs not indigenously produced in sufficient quantities.
Towards the east, there was little economic justification to lay a line to the dry zone in that direction,
but it became strategically
worthwhile to lay a line to the natural harbour of Trincomalee and also connect it to the provincial capital
of Batticaloa.
These lines were laid with light (21 kg) section rails, as was the narrow gauge section to serve the rubber
plantations east of Colombo, known as the Kelani Valley Line.
Up country, a similar branch line was laid from Nanu Oya on the Main Line through very difficult terrain to
serve the tea plantations around
Nuwara Eliya. Track alignment was defined in this section about 140 years ago, when economic considerations
were vastly different.
The railways achieved modal superiority with speeds of 25 to 40 kmph in the hill country and 65 to 80 in the
low country. Civil engineering criteria was influenced by the economic need to minimize cuts and fills,
permitting gradients to 2 to 3 % and minimizing bridge lengths. As a result,
the alignment here is winding with very sharp curves.
In the early days of the railways, the bulk of the freight was carried to the port of Colombo and as the
port expanded,
rail lines were laid to serve every pier.
Intercity & Express trains
Available class types : 1st ,2nd and 3rdIntercity, Express & Night mail trains
Available class types : 1st ,2nd and 3rdIntercity & Express trains
Available class types : 1st ,2nd, 3rd and observations saloonIntercity & Express trains
Available class types : 1st ,2nd, 3rd and observations saloonNight mail train
Available class types : 2nd and 3rdIntercity, Express & Night mail trains
Available class types : 1st, 2nd and 3rdNight mail train
Available class types : 2nd classSlow train
Available class types : Observations saloonYou should use a valid VISA or Master Credit/ Debit card when making online reservations through the internet.
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| Number hours to the train departure time | |||
| More than 168 hours (7 days +) | Less than 168 hours but more than 48 hours ( 2 days > 7 days) | Less than 48 hours ( less than 2 days) | |
| Refund percentage (%) from the ticket fee | 75% | 50% | 0% |
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SLR shall also not be held responsible, when circumstances beyond its control lead to an interruption, early termination, delay or cancellation of any particular trip. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to instances of vis major/force majeure and/or casus fortuitus (natural causes such as floods and other natural disasters, fortuitous and unforeseen events, etc.).
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Children from the age of 3 (three) years and younger sharing a seat with their parents travel free of charge (maximum of 1 (one)child per adult). Due to space constraints, SLR will not be able to accommodate any additional seat(s) to accommodate the infant / children. Children will have to share the seat with their parents / guardians. Should this pose a problem, SLR recommends that the guests book an additional seat for the children (in which case the children's rate does not apply and the standard adult rate for the seat shall apply). Children from the age of 3 (three) years and older pay full adult rates. SLR does not serve or provide special meals for children and/ or infants or adults. Children should be kept under strict adult supervision by their parents/ guardians and should not inconvenience other guests.
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No pets are allowed onboard.
Each adult passenger will be allowed, to bring on board their luggage, free of charge as per SLR’s general regulation. (Refer to general commercial rules set out below. For any enquiries meet a railway office.) The commuters will have to store luggage in the Luggage cabin by themselves. Luggage/baggage stored in the Luggage cabin is subject to availability. SLR would not provide additional space to accommodate their luggage. Heavy luggage is exclusively prohibited as little space available for commuters to store their luggage.
As per general commercial rules of SLR, followings are the limitations applicable on free luggage based on the type of ticket.
Passengers are strictly recommended to ensure that their luggage is(are) securely locked. SLR is not responsible for any stolen or lost luggage.
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and Conditions herein at any time without assigning any reasons therefore and
you agree to be bound by all such revisions made by Sri Lanka Railways from time
to time. It is your responsibility to periodically review the latest version of
the Terms and Conditions uploaded at
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Any enquiries or complaints should be forwarded in writing to the Deputy General Manager (commercial) - Sri Lanka Railways Headquarters, Colombo-10.