Sri Lanka
Country details
See Wikipedia
National railway system
The national railway operator is Sri Lanka Railways (SLR).
Infrastructure
Gauge
- 1676 mm (5 foot 6 inches)
Electrification
- None
Rule of the road
- Left
Maps
There are no known printed maps.
Online maps are available at:
- SLR website but inaccurate.
- Railways Through Europe
Timetable
Extensive information is available at the Man in Seat 61 but this may not be current timings.
- Journey planner: SLR website (English language)
- Not tested by the Compilers but a January 2024 traveller recommended the RDNSM.LK App as the best found for times and train numbers
- Downloadable timetable: none known
- Printed timetable: No longer available according to Winter 2024 visitors. In 2017/18 a printed timetable was available at ticket offices costing Rs 150/-.
- 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 were suspended - as indicated where known.
- Engineering information: long-term engineering works may be reported as news on the front page of the SLR website.
Other railways
The line north from Noor Nagar (terminus of passenger services from Colombo via Puttalam) is privately owned and freight only.
Tourist railways
None known.
Metro and light rail systems
None. A light rail system may be constructed in Colombo.
Recent and Future Changes
Recent Changes
Work to renovate the 59 km from Maradana to Avissawella, on the Kelani Valley line, was launched on 7 September 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2 years.
Train operations from Colombo to Jaffna were due to resume from the 15 July 2023, after closure on 5 January 2023, for modernisation of the railway track between Anuradhapura and Omanthai, under Maho-Omanthai Railway Development project.
28km of new line from Matara to Beliatta opened in 2019, 44 km onwards to Hambantota is planned.
Future Changes
It is an aspiration to connect up around the eastern coast from Matera to Batticaloa, some parts have been built and opened.
The rehabilitation of 128 km of the Maho to Omanthai railway route, on the Northern Line, is taking place in four phases over 3 years. Two phases have now been completed. Renovation from Mahawa to Anuradhapura began on 7 January 2024.
Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
See Sri Lanka - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services.
