By train in Sri Lanka - a journey of unforgettable beauty! Railway transport in Sri Lanka Book a train ticket in Sri Lanka.

If you want to travel around Sri Lanka by train, and at the same time you are interested in the most colorful and popular destinations, then train tickets must be bought in advance. Indeed, for such popular destinations as Colombo - Kandy and Kandy - Ella, there are many more people who want to buy tickets. If you don’t think about buying tickets in advance, you can end up in a packed third-class carriage or pay for a ticket several times the actual price.

In this article, you will learn:

What you need to know about Sri Lanka trains

In Sri Lanka trains, carriages are divided into classes - from cheap third class to relatively expensive first class.

Tickets in third class carriages sold in unlimited quantities. Therefore, it cannot be a situation that all third class tickets have been sold. But it may turn out that an incredible number of passengers are crammed into the carriage. Tickets for third class carriages cannot be bought in advance. They are sold only before the train leaves at the railway ticket offices at the train station or at the railway station.

Second class wagons is available on most trains and on popular tourist destinations. Second class carriages can be of two types: unreserved (tickets cannot be bought or booked in advance) and reserved (tickets can be bought in advance).

First class wagons there are only a few trains. All first class tickets can be bought in advance, and not just possible, but necessary. First class carriages run along the most interesting and beautiful routes, the number of seats is limited (there are no standing places). Therefore, tickets are usually sold out several months in advance.

How to buy a train ticket in Sri Lanka in advance

Let's start with the tricky way. If you are already in Sri Lanka, you have a SIM card of the local mobile operator Mobitel or Etisalat and your level of English allows you to have conversations on the phone, then you can call the short number 365 (paid) and book tickets for yourself. The cost of the ticket and the cost of the conversation (per minute billing) will be deducted from the phone balance. You need to pick up tickets at the office of the mobile operator (not in every one, but only where there is a similar service).

The safer way to buy train tickets is to do it online. through the Internet... You can find out the train schedule, buy tickets in second and first class carriages for the most popular and beautiful routes in Sri Lanka on the website. At the time of this writing, the following destinations were available:

Sri Lanka's Golden Triangle - an area of ​​historical and cultural attractions:

Highlands of Sri Lanka:

North of Sri Lanka:

West Coast of Sri Lanka:

A big plus of the site is the presence of the Russian language, photos of cars, links to the location of stations on the map. Therefore, buying train tickets in Sri Lanka is easy and simple, but you need to remember a few important nuances:

• Tickets are available for purchase at least 32 days before the trip (from October 2018 they promise to be reduced to 5 days),
• The ticket voucher received after payment must be exchanged for a full train ticket at the company's office in Colombo or order ticket delivery to your hotel in Colombo(shipping costs $ 10).
  • Office address: Colombo, shopping center Welikada Plaza (at the corner of Sri Jayawardhanapura Parliment and old street Rajagiriya), office 17 Stef Lanka on the ground floor (inside the building, near the stairs). Coordinates on the map: 6.9092441,79.8954407
  • The office is located far from the center of Colombo, so it is better to order delivery of tickets to the hotel.

Instructions for buying train tickets via the Internet

On the site, select the direction you are interested in (it is better to enter the names of cities in English), the date of the trip and the number of passengers. Children under 3 years old travel by train free of charge, for a child over 3 years old a regular "adult" ticket is bought.

To search for tickets, you can use the form, which, for your convenience, I have embedded in the article:

After clicking the "Find tickets" button, you will be able to see all available train tickets (or a message about their absence, if we forgot about the 32-day limit or all tickets have already been sold out).

Things to look out for when buying train tickets:

• train departure time (remember that you still need to have time to get tickets),
• duration of the trip,
• type of carriage and amenities (air conditioning, toilet),
• conditions for the receipt and cancellation of already paid tickets.

If everything suits you, press the "Buy" button and carefully fill in your contact details. Anyone can pay for tickets by credit card or through the payment system PayPal. After payment, a voucher with confirmation of the purchase of a train ticket will be sent to your specified e-mail.

To plan ahead tourist route around the island, find out the exact train schedule in Sri Lanka. Where to change trains, the time of departure and arrival of the train, how much is on the way and other helpful information for travelers.

The bulk of the local population travels around the island either by train or by bus. The train journey takes longer than the bus. But more budgetary.

It is better to buy tickets for the first and second class in advance. To get into first class - buy tickets 30 days before the trip.

You should try to get into third-class carriages first in order to be able to sit down or get up comfortably.

Trains to or from Colombo are usually overcrowded. It takes a lot of effort to get into the car at rush hour. Some of the locals will have time to take empty seats, the rest will stand closely in the aisle or by the toilet. Tourists usually don't have the skill to pave their way to the seats. You have to stand for several hours in a row.

Train schedule on the official website

The train schedule in Sri Lanka is usually unchanged, but before buying a ticket, it is better to check the information on the official website of the Ceylon Railway.

Site on English language... The table shows the type of train - high-speed, night, etc. Then the place of departure (From) and the destination (To). Departure and Arrival times.

First of all, the Sri Lanka train schedule on the main line: Colombo, Badulla, Matale, Kandy, Matara. Further intercity express services, coastline, east, north, Puttalam side, Kelani valley line.

How to buy a train ticket in Sri Lanka

The carriages are divided into first, second and third class.

You need to buy a train ticket in Sri Lanka in first class in advance.

A month or several weeks before the intended trip. The earlier, the more chances you have of getting a ticket. The first class is being sold out at lightning speed. For a trip on the same day, there is an opportunity to get only to the second and third class.

Not all trains have first class carriages.

How to book a ticket

You can buy tickets only while in Sri Lanka. And only through "live" cash desks. Online booking no. You won't be able to book by phone either. This applies to tickets for carriages of each class and any direction.

Railroad map

The map shows the main railway stations ( big cities and resorts). As well as the train schedule of Sri Lanka.

Traveling by train: which resorts to visit

During the tsunami in 2004, the main part of the railway was washed away by the wave. South side the coast was awaiting renovation for about 10 years. Trains partially went to the central and eastern part country. On the this moment the work of the Sri Lanka railway is fully restored.

You can get to most of the resorts and attractions of Ceylon by train.

• It's all South coast islands - gorgeous beaches and the Indian Ocean.
• You can visit the highlands and - Kandy, Nuwara Eliya (center of the country).
• Take the train to Jaffna (north).
• Get acquainted with the historical part of Sri Lanka - ancient cities, ruins, temples - the city of Polonnaruwa.
• Visit the beach resorts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the east.

Route Nuwara Eliya - Ella - the attraction of the island

A pleasant way to explore the mountainous part of the island is to buy tickets for the Nuwara Eliya - Ella train.

According to National Geographik, the views that open along this route are some of the most beautiful in the world!

Travel time is 3 hours.

The paths are laid through the mountains, the hills are planted with tea bush, the train passes through the jungle. Anyone who has time on vacation should definitely visit this part of the island!

Detailed itinerary from different points of Sri Lanka.

To get from the airport to Nuwara Eliya, you must first get to Colombo. At the Colombo Fort railway station, buy tickets for the Colombo - Kandy - Badulla train. This train goes through Nuwara Eliya and Ella.

By train to the beach

It is possible to take a train to (all resorts by the ocean are marked on the map). If you are going on a trip during the autumn and winter months (November to April), then it is worth going to. It's high season.

Kilometer Hikkaduwa beaches and swimming with turtles, cozy beach Unawatuns without waves, whale safari in Mirissa, calm Koggala, famous fort in Galle. About 30 beaches that can be reached by train.

In the summer months it is best to visit the east- Batticaloa, Trincomalee.

Historical and architectural monuments in Colombo-Kandy

The Colombo-Kandy direction will allow you to get acquainted with a huge number of attractions in Sri Lanka. As well as on the way to Kandy, there is something to see in the vicinity of the city:

1. Before reaching Kandy - Pinnawella station. There is an elephant nursery in Pinavelle.
2. Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
3. Spice garden.
4. Museum of the History of Buddhism and National Museum Kandy.
5. Alagalla mountain range - 26 km from the city.
6. Botanical Garden in Peradeniya - 6.5 km from Kandy.

There is a direct train from Colombo to Kandy. Travel time is 3 hours. The Colombo-Matali train stops at Kandy.

Colombo Putallam - northwest of the country

You can also get to the north-western side of the island by train. Beach resorts Marawila, Negombo and Chilau. In the vicinity of Putallam is the village of Kalpitiya, where you can go surfing and kiting.

Pollonaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee - east

Pollonaruwa is the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Here you can visit the ruins royal palace and the Council Hall, see the statue of King Parakramabah, the remains of the royal library. Visit the 11th century Hindu temple Shiva Devale, see the ancient lotus pond, the home of Tiwanka's frescoes. And much more.

The beach resorts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee are worth visiting during the summer months - June, July, August. This is the season in the eastern part of the island.

1. Buy tickets for first class 30 days before the expected date of travel.
2. Combine all types of transport to get to the resort faster and more comfortably: taxi, tuk-tuk, bus, train.
3. Try not to get into rush hour - the carriages will be overcrowded.
4. Buy express train tickets so as not to waste time on the road. Local train stops at every village, as opposed to express.

The railway network is well developed in Sri Lanka and connects mainly large cities. Traveling by train can be more comfortable than traveling by bus (with the exception of third class carriages). The train timetable can be found on the official website. Routes such as Nuwara Eliya - Ella along the mountain serpentines and Colombo - Galle along the ocean coast are famous for their magnificent landscapes and are included in the must-see program.

The railway network in Sri Lanka was originally built by the British in the nineteenth century. And for last years has undergone tremendous changes, going from charmingly old and antique to a comfortable, and on some routes, even a fairly fast way of getting around. The rolling stock was replaced practically throughout the island with modern cars, including new cars with air conditioning and soft seats. Although it is quite common to find old, rusty-red cars, which have remained in use since colonial times. In 2014 and 2015, the railway lines to Jaffna and Mannar were reopened, which had been closed during the last decades during the war with Tamils.

The number of stops on the same directions varies greatly depending on the train. The express train has only a few stops, standard intercity trains make more stops, and night mail trains stop at almost every station.

Railway network

The railway network in Sri Lanka has nine branches. The main ones are:

• Coastal line along west coast from Colombo south to Matara through the popular resorts of Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Bentota, Beruwala, Aluthgama, Balapitiya Beach, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa.
• From Colombo north along the coast to Puttalam via Negombo and Chilau.
• To the central mountainous region from Colombo to Badulla through Kandy, Hatton (Adam's Peak), Nana Oya (Nuwara Eliya), Haputale, Bandarawela, Ella.
• The northern branch in Jaffna runs from Colombo through Kurunegala to Anuradhapura and Vavuniya. Three additional branches extend from this line: the first to Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa, the second to Trincomalee, and the third to Madhu Road, Mannar and Talaymannar.
• And small branches from Colombo to Avissavella and from Paradenia to Matale.

Train classes

Trains are divided into three classes: First, Second and Third. Most trains consist exclusively of second and third class carriages. While the difference in the cost of the second and third class is almost 2-3 times, in fact, there are no special differences between them. Outside, the cars are signed: "2" - Second class, "3" - third. The upholstery of the second class seats is softer and there are fans in the carriages, but the main bonus is that the second class, as a rule, is not so crowded, but this is not a fact (it all depends on the time and direction). Also, third-class carriages do not sell water, fruit and various fast food, which locals endlessly carry around the carriages, squeezing through the aisles whenever the car is full. On some trains, it is possible to reserve both second and third class seats.

First class is divided into three types of seats, which are only available on certain trains and must be booked in advance. These are the usual seats in first class air-conditioned carriages on intercity trains; viewing places in special carriages on routes in mountainous areas; and sleeping places on night trains. Recently, new modern trains made in China were put into operation in the directions of the northern and central mountain regions. of blue color, in which, due to the operating air conditioner, you cannot open the windows and you are, as it were, cut off from the outside world by deaf tinted glass. Therefore, some passengers prefer the second or even third class, in the carriages of which the windows are always open and the air is fresher, and also better photographs are obtained.

Due to the small size of the island, unlike neighboring India, there are only a few overnight trains: Colombo-Badulla Express, Colombo-Batticaloa half-express, Colombo-Trincomalli half-express, Colombo-Vavunia half-express. They are first, second and third grade berths (in fact, just reclining places), plus the usual seating.

Sightseeing or observation cars are offered by two independent companies: Expo Rail (tel. 011 522 5050, www.exporail.lk) and Rajadhani Express (tel. 0071 035 5355, http://rajadhani.lk/). Special tourist carriages with soft seats and large panoramic windows, from which a 360-degree view opens up, are usually attached at the tail of the train. The cars are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned, but perhaps the main advantage is that seats can be booked both online and by phone. You can buy a ticket to the observation car only at popular destinations: Colombo-Kandy-Badulla (central highlands) and Colombo-Matara (along the southwest coast), so the places in them are very quickly sorted out. For example, a ticket in the Colombo-Kandy inspection car will cost about 1800 rupees ($ 10) one way.

Rates and reservations

Despite the rise in prices, tariffs for Railway tickets still very cheap. For example, you can travel by train from Colombo along the entire southwest coast to Matar (157 km) in second class for only 230 rupees ($ 1.5), and in third class for 130 rupees ($ 0.8); from Colombo north to Jaffna (400 km) will cost the second class 540 rupees ($ 3.7), and the third class - 335 rupees ($ 2.2); and to get to the east coast in Trincomalli (300 km from Colombo), a ticket for the second class costs 450 rupees ($ 3), and for the third class - 285 rupees ($ 1.9).

Many trains now have seats in all three classes, which can be booked in advance. Reservations can be made in only two ways: either in person at the main railway stations 30 days before the train departure or by phone. Short number 365 of the Call Center for the mobile operator Mobitel or Etisalat.

Currently, online booking of tickets on the official website http://www.railway.gov.lk/ is not provided.

Trains in Sri Lanka: schedule, map

To travel long distances, the local population actively uses mainly two types of transport - buses and railroad... The total length of railways in the country is 1447 km.

The railway, like buses, in Sri Lanka is a very inexpensive and popular form of transport. There are only three types in the country public transport: railway, public and private buses.

Train timetable Sri Lanka

The current train schedule can be found on the Internet, on the website of the Sri Lanka Railways. Pay attention to the type indicated on the schedule: it may be express or local- the speeds of these types of trains are different and a short route, traveled by express in 1.5 hours, on a local train can take 3. But there are also pluses - local trains stop at all stations, and express trains often pass by small railway stations.

Sri Lanka Railway Line Map

Complete diagram of the railway lines of the island of Sri Lanka. Rail links cover a number of popular tourist destinations: the entire southwest coast to Matara, Kandy, Peradeniya (Royal Botanic Garden), Nuwara Eliya (the railway station is called Nanu Oya), Pinnawela (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 of Colombo, by rail you can reach most major cities country. Unfortunately, the railway branch to Hambantota has not yet been completed, only its first section to Beliatta has been opened in 2019.

Resolution: 2000 * 3000.

Open the map of Sri Lanka railway lines in a new tab.

Online railway map of Sri Lanka

When planning a trip to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, remember that the railway service is made through Colombo, i.e. you cannot 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 ahead of time. Allow this time to wait to avoid unpleasant situations.

Sri Lanka Railway Directions

1. Colombo - Matara (southwest), goes along the entire popular tourist resort of the southwest coast to Matara. A branch to Kataragama (next to Yala Park), encompassing resorts such as Dikwella and Tangalle, is planned but not yet completed. For 2019, the Matara - Beliatta (South) section, which runs along the southern coast of the island, is the first segment of the Matara - Kataragama road.
2. Colombo - Puttalam (northwest), the branch goes along the north-western coast of Sri Lanka, passing through the resort towns of Negombo, Marawila, Chilau. Close to Puttalam there is a kitesurfing resort village Kalpitiya.
3. Colombo - Avissavella (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 at Jaffna. The line was badly damaged during the civil war, were destroyed, but by now rebuilt, 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 up to Indian city Rameshwaram).
6. Colombo - Mihintale (north-central part) towards the north of the island, through the city of Anuradhapura, which is part of the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. 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 as passes through many attractions of the mountainous part: the section of the Peradeniya-Nuwara Eliya route is famous for its landscapes (mountains, tea plantations), Hatton (Adam's Peak), part of the route runs through National park Horton Plains, Bandaravella towns, 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 the Pinnavelu elephant nursery (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 captures tourist city Avukan, where the landmark of Avukan and Habaran (tree houses) is located.
10. Colombo - Batticaloa (east) passes 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 the resort towns of Kalkuda and Passikuda.

Train interchange stations

The junction stations connecting the railway branches are mainly very small cities, this should be taken into account when planning a route.