Sri Lanka Railways

Native name	ශ්‍රී ලංකා දුම්රිය සේවය (Sinhala) இலங்கை புகையிரத சேவை (Tamil)
Company type	Government-owned corporation
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1858; 167 years ago (1858)
Headquarters	Colombo,Sri Lanka
Key people	W.A.D.S. Gunasinghe, (general manager)[1]
Services	Passenger railways Freight services Parcel carrier Catering and tourism services Parking lot operations Other related services
Revenue	Rs 7.412 billion(2018)[2]
Operating income	Rs−22.21 billion(2018)[2]
Net income	Rs−6.97 billion(2018)[3]
Owner	Government of Sri Lanka
Number of employees	14,885(2018)[2]
Rail map of Sri Lanka Overview Reporting mark SLR Technical Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Electrification 78 kilometres (48 mi)[4] (Planned) Length 1,508 km (937 mi) (track length)
Website	railway.gov.lk

TheSri Lanka Railway Department (more commonly known asSri Lanka Railways (SLR)) (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා දුම්රිය සේවයŚrī Laṃkā Dumriya Sēvaya;Tamil: இலங்கை புகையிரத சேவைIlankai Pugaiyiradha Sēvai) isSri Lanka's railway owner and primary operator. As part of the Sri Lankan government, it is overseen by theMinistry of Transport. Founded in 1858 as the Ceylon Government Railway, it operates the nation's railways and linksColombo (the capital) with other population centres and tourist destinations.

The Sri Lankan rail network is 1,508 km (937 mi) of5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)broad gauge. Some of its routes are scenic, with the main line passing (or crossing) waterfalls, mountains,tea estates, pine forests, bridges and peak stations.

Ceylon Railway Company's Dissolution Act 1862
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for dissolving the Ceylon Railway Company, and for other Purposes connected therewith.
Citation	25 & 26 Vict. c. ci
Dates
Royal assent	30 June 1862
Text of statute as originally enacted

The construction of a railway inCeylon was first raised in 1842 by European coffee planters seeking a line be constructed between Kandy and Colombo as a quicker more efficient means to transport their product for export. After protracted negotiations the Ceylon Railway Company was established in 1845, under the chair ofPhilip Anstruther,Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, to build the colony's first railway. In 1846 the company's engineer, Thomas Drane, undertook preliminary surveys for the new rail line. In December 1856 CaptainWilliam Scarth Moorsom, Chief Engineer of the Corps of Royal Engineers, was sent from England to assess the project for theSecretary of State for the Colonies,Henry Labouchere. His report, issued May 1857, considered six alternative routes to Kandy and recommended the adoption of Route No.3 via the Parnepettia Pass, with a total length of 127 km (79 mi), a ruling gradient of one in 60, with a short Tunnel at an estimated cost of £856,557. The initial sod turning was on 3 August 1858 (near the presentMaradana railway station) byGovernor SirHenry Ward. The Ceylon Railway Company's contractor, William Thomas Doyne, soon realised that it was impossible to complete the work on the estimate submitted. In 1861, the contract with the Ceylon Railway Company was terminated, the subscribed capital paid off, and the government took over the construction work, under the name Ceylon Government Railway (now Sri Lanka Railway). At the end of 1862 the Crown Agents for the Colonies accepted, on behalf of the Government of Ceylon, a tender fromWilliam Frederick Faviell for the construction of 117 km (73 mi) of railway between Colombo and Kandy.

The service began with a 54-kilometre (34 mi) main line connecting Colombo andAmbepussa.^[5]Guilford Lindsey Molesworth, the first chief engineer, became director general of the government railway. Many Ceylonese people referred to the trains as (Sinhala:අගුරු කකා වතුර බිබී කොළඹ දුවන යකඩ යකා)Anguru Kaka Wathura Bibi Colaba Duwana Yakada Yaka^[6] ("coal-eating, water-drinking, metal monster which is sprinting to Colombo").

Extensions were made to the main line in 1867, 1874, 1885, 1894 and 1924 toKandy,Nawalapitiya,Nanu Oya,Bandarawela andBadulla.^[7] Other lines were added to the rail system during its first century, including an 1880 line toMatale; the 1895 Coast Railway Line; the 1905 Northern Line; the 1914 Mannar Line; the 1919 Kelani Valley Line; the 1926 Puttalam Line, and the 1928 line toBatticaloa andTrincomalee. For more than 80 years after that,^[8] no major extensions were added to the Ceylonese rail network.

Rail infrastructure was improved from 1955 to 1970 under the management ofB. D. Rampala, chief mechanical engineer and general manager of the Ceylon Government Railway.^[6] Emphasising punctuality and comfort, Rampala led upgrades to major stations outside Colombo and the rebuilding of track in theEastern Province to facilitate heavier, faster trains. He introduced express trains (many of which had iconic names), and ensured that Ceylon's rail system was up to date and offered comfort to its passengers.^[6][9] Until 1953, Ceylon's railways usedsteam locomotives. During 1960s and 70s, they changed todiesel locomotives under Rampala's leadership.^[9]

The government began a 10-year railway-development strategy in the early 2010s, ordering replacementDMUs.^[6][10][11] The southern line, which was damaged in the2004 tsunami, was upgraded from 2010 to 2012; its track was upgraded to handle train speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph).^[12] Sri Lanka Railways began partnering withExpoRail andRajadhani Express in 2011 for premium service on major routes.^[13][14] Itsnorthern line, affected by almost three decades of war, is being rebuilt; in 2015, it was restored toJaffna andKankesanthurai at pre-war levels The maximum speed on this line is currently 120 km/h(74 mph).^[15] Thesouthern line is being extended fromMatara toKataragama to serve the developing city ofHambantota.^[8] In 2019, track construction to Beliaththa was completed.

In 1936, theCeylon Government Railways owned 261 locomotives, 30steam railcars, 1591 coaches and 3259 goods wagons.^[16]

Sri Lanka Railways' locomotives are primarilydiesel.Steam locomotives, in regular service until the late 1970s, are used on heritage trains such as theViceroy Special.^[9][17]

The first locomotives pulled trains during the 1860s on the original 54-kilometre (34 mi) main line connectingColombo andAmbepussa.^[5] Sri Lanka Railways converted to diesel locomotives in 1953,^[9] and several types were added to its fleet. Although Sri Lanka did not have commercially-operatingelectric locomotives or trainsets in 2011, electrification has been proposed to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.^[18]

Different Coaches from various manufacturers used in Sri Lanka Railways

Photo	Sr.No.	Manufacturer	Country of Origin	Year	Quantity built	Length (in feet)	Notes
	1	?	Sri Lanka	1939(?)	-	45 ft.	Out of Service; a few maybe spotted with departmental duty trains.
	2	?	China	1964(?)	44	55 ft.	Almost all scrapped; a few Third Class Guard Vans are in service with freight trains and also with Chinese coach rakes made in 2007
-	3	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1976	13	55 ft.	1st Batch of Romanian coaches
-	4	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1979-1980	188	55 ft. & 45 ft.	2nd Batch of Romanian coaches
	5	BEML	India	1980	34	45 ft. & 50 ft.	Most of them scrapped; a few Sleeperette coaches are in service with Night Mail trains, and also used in departmental duty.
-	6	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1981	90	55 ft.	3rd Batch of Romanian coaches
	7	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1989	130	55 ft. & 45 ft.	4th Batch of Romanian coaches. Later refurbished by Tantri Trailer (Pvt.) Ltd.
	8	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1990s	312	55 ft. & 45 ft.	5th Batch of Romanian coaches. Later refurbished by Tantri Trailer (Pvt.) Ltd.
	9	China CNR	China	2007-2008	100	65 ft.	Withdrawn from service in 2020 due to faulty brake system.[19] A few coaches were returned to limited service after brake retrofitting.
	10	Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai	India	2020-2022	160	65 ft.	Ordered to replace faulty Chinese coaches and Romanian coaches nearing end of service life. Mainly to be used for on the Northern & Coastal lines.

Most of the passenger coaches that are in service are either manufactured by the RomanianAstra Rail Industries^[20][21] or byICF, Chennai.^[22] On most lines, service is being upgraded with long-hauldiesel multiple units from CSR Corporation and India'sRITES.^[10][11][23]

The 1,508-kilometre (937 mi) Sri Lankan railway network is 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)broad gauge.^[9] All service is diesel-powered.^[24] The network is divided into three operating regions based in Colombo,Anuradhapura andNawalapitiya.^[25][26] The railway is modernising and extending theCoastal Line for faster trains and improved efficiency.^[27]

Althoughelectrification was first proposed in 1928, thecabinet did not approve the electrification of suburban railways until 2015. Electrification of thePanadura-Veyangoda line is proposed in phase one of theWestern Region Megapolis plan with asoft loan from theAsian Development Bank.^[28][29][30]

A contract was signed byMalaysia's Airport Express Air and Rail Company and thegovernment of Sri Lanka for a new electric rail line betweenNegombo and Colombo, and the project was expected to be completed by 2018.^[31] Electrification of the busiest sections of the network was proposed several times to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. Around 1998, theInstitution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) submitted recommendations for railway electrification. Although they were approved by the cabinet, they were not implemented. The IESL made new proposals for electrification in 2008 and 2010, but no work was done because the voltage systems were undefined. System electrification is favoured by the IESL to reduce pollution and travel time and increase passenger comfort.^[32][6]

Although Sri Lanka Railways is planning to electrify the 120-kilometre (75 mi) Colombo commuter-rail system from Veyangoda toMaradana, Maradana toKaluthara andRagama to Negombo, their voltage systems are unknown. Fifteenelectric multiple units will be imported for commuter service.^[33]

Much of the network uses alock-and-block signaling system. During the mid-twentieth century, the busiest sectors (around Colombo) were upgraded toelectronic signalling connected to aCTC control panel at theMaradana railway station.^[9]

In 2011, a project to add electronic signalling to the northern lines began. Track betweenAnuradhapura,Kankesanturai, andTalaimannar would have electronic signalling with centralised traffic control: an interlocking colour-light system with electrically operatedpoints and a track-detection system. Level crossings would be connected to the signalling system, ensuring safety.^[34]

After the2011 Alawwa rail accident, SLR began installing aGPS-basedtrain-protection system on its fleet. The system warns atrain driver of a possible collision in time to manually stop the train. The fleet can also be monitored by a central control room with the system. A trial run with ten trains was conducted in early November 2011.^[35][36]

Major population centres and tourist destinations are connected by rail. Service began in 1864 with the construction of the Main Line from Colombo toAmbepussa, 54 kilometres (34 mi) east, and the first train ran on 27 December 1864. The line was officially opened to traffic on 2 October 1865. The Main Line was extended in stages, with service toKandy in 1867, toNawalapitiya in 1874, toNanu-Oya in 1885, toBandarawela in 1894, and toBadulla in 1924.^[37] Other lines were completed to link the country: the Matale Line in 1880, the Coastal Line in 1895, the Northern Line in 1905, the Mannar Line in 1914, theKelani Valley Line in 1919, the Puttalam Line in 1926, and the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Lines in 1928.^[38]

Main Line

TheMain Linebegins in Colombo and runs east and north past the developing centres ofRagama,GanemullaGampaha,Veyangoda,Mirigama,Ambepussa andPolgahawela. AtRambukkana, the line begins a steep climb into the hills. The track runs along the edge of sheer cliffs between Balana andKadugannawa, allowing passengers a view ofBatalegala.

The line then continues climbing throughtea country, connecting market centers atGampola,Nawalapitiya andHatton before reachingNanu Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort ofNuwara Eliya, still visited for its temperate climate, classic hotels and British-style gardens. The Main Line reaches its summit atPattipola, 6,226 feet (1,898 m) above sea level, before descending pastBandarawela toBadulla. Passengers can viewtea gardens, mountains, valleys and waterfalls.

Coastal line

Thecoastal line runs south from Colombo, following theIndian Ocean, with views of tropical beaches andcoconut palm trees. It links the regional centres ofMoratuwa,Panadura andKalutara, and beach resorts atAluthgama,Ambalangoda andHikkaduwa. The line continues pastGalle (known for its historic, preserved Dutch fort), ending inBeliatta.

From 1895 to 2013, the line ended inMatara.^[39] From 2013 to 2019, theChina National Machinery Import and Export Corporation extended the line to Beliatta in phase one of the Southern Railway project;^[40] it was the first new railway built in Sri Lanka since its independence from Great Britain in 1948.^[41] Phase two will serveMagampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port inHambantota, and phase three will reach Kataragama; in April 2019, they had not yet begun construction.^[40]

Puttalam line

ThePuttalam line branches off the Main Line atRagama, extending north pastKandanaJa-Ela,Seeduwa,Katunayake (Colombo International Airport) andNegombo (a commercial centre and regional tourist destination). It connects northwestern Sri Lanka, reaching Negombo Kochikade, Waikkala,Lunuwila (and the National Coconut Research Center),Nattandiya,Madampe,Chilaw, Bangadeniya,Mundel andPuttalam.The line also links other market towns and fishing villages. Passenger service ends at the Noor Nagar station, just north of Puttalam. Beyond that, the tracks are used byHolcim trains to haul cement.

Kelani Valley line

TheKelani Valley line extends fromMaradana east toAvissawella. Originally anarrow-gauge line, it was converted to5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge between 1991 and 1997. The line connects the Colombo suburbs in thedistrict with the city.

Matale line

TheMatale line branches off the Main Line atPeradeniya Junction, near thePeradeniya Botanical Gardens. It runs toKandy, home of theSri Dalada Maligawa (which houses therelic of the tooth of the Buddha), before descending toMatale.

Northern line

Thenorthern line branches north from the Main Line atPolgahawela, passingKurunegala (capital ofNorth Western Province) before continuing to the cultural center ofAnuradhapura: the island's capital around the 4th century BCE, and home to a number of religious and archaeological sites. Service has been extended to the line's terminus atKankesanthurai on theJaffna Peninsula, pastKilinochchi.^[42]

Mannar line

TheMannar line branches westward from the northern line atMedawachchiya, passingMadhu Road (location of theShrine of Our Lady of Madhu) and continuing toMannar Island: home of thedistrict capital and terminus of the formerTalaimannar line.

Batticaloa line

TheBatticaloa line branches eastward from the northern line atMaho toPolonnaruwa, site of an 11th-century capital and home to a number of historic monuments, before continuing to the city ofBatticaloa.^[43]

Trincomalee line

TheTrincomalee line branches north and east from the Batticaloa line atGal Oya Junction and extends toTrincomalee.

Mihintale line

TheMihintale line is a short branch line which connectsMihintale (home of the Mihintale Temple, where TheraMahinda – who broughtBuddhism to Sri Lanka – arrived) withAnuradhapura (the capital of Sri Lanka for over 100 years) via the northern line. It branches off the latter atMihintale Junction and runs eastward to Mihintale (the line's only stations).

Intercity network

The intercity network radiates from Colombo, connecting most major population and industrial centres with passenger andfreight service,^[26] and includes hubs atColombo Fort andMaradana.

Sri Lanka Railways hasintercity service connecting major population centres, andcommuter rail serving Colombo commuters.^[44] The railway also transports freight. Most intercity trains have several classes:^[45]

• 1st class sleeper, with sleeping berths, is available on a few overnight trains.
• 1st class observation car is available on some day trains, primarily on the Main Line. Normally at the rear of the train, it is occasionally behind the locomotive.
• 1st class air-conditioned^[45] seats are available on some intercity express trains between Colombo and Vavunia and Colombo and Batticaloa. They are also available on the main-lineUdarata Manike andPodi Manike trains.
• 2nd class seats, available on all intercity trains, are unreserved or reserved.
• 3rd class, available on most trains, have basic bench seats and fans.

Commuter trains serve the busiest portions of Colombo and its suburbs.^[46] Most commuter trains are diesel multiple units and lack the three-class configuration of intercity service.^[44] Commuter trains, which alleviate rush-hour congestion on city roads, can be crowded. Electrification of the commuter-rail network has been proposed to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.^[18]

• Intercity Express: The fastest train type, with few stops. Passengers get special tickets and pay a premium.
• Intercity: Express trains which do limited stop and run to the furthest most points of the country.
• Night Mail: Night-time trains with freight transport, they run toBadulla,Batticaloa, Trincomalee,Kankesanthurai andGalle.
• Express: Links Colombo and major transport hubs, they operate throughout the country.
• Colombo Commuter: Stops at each station on the route and operate in the Colombo region.
• Local Trains: They tend to run in more rural areas and serve smaller stations where Intercity and Express trains wouldn't stop at.
• Mixed Trains: They stop at all stations and carry both passengers and cargo.

SLR divides its network into three operating regions, based inMaradana, Nawalapitya andAnuradhapura.^[47] The network consists of nine lines, and several services were named during the 1950s.

High Speed Railway Corporation (HSRC) plans to introduce amaglev system to the island with a line connecting Negombo andColombo 3.^[48]

Sri Lanka Railways is planning to restore the Kelaniya Valley Line up to Opanayake through Kuruvita,Ratnapura and Kahawatta and to augment the line with a broad gauge viaEmbilipitiya and Suriyawewa to the port ofHambantota by 2030.^[49]

A proposal to link the railways of Sri Lanka andIndia did not materialise, but a combined train-ferry-train service (known asBoat Mail) connected Colombo withChennai for much of the twentieth century.^[50] A 35 km (22 miles) bridge linking the countries was proposed in 1894 by the consultant engineer for railways in Madras (Chennai); ablueprint and cost analysis were made. The Mannar line was built by 1914 to connectTalaimannar onMannar Island to the Sri Lankan mainland, and the Indian rail network was extended toDhanushkodi; however, the bridge linking them was not built.^[50] India-Sri Lanka rail connectivity proposal entails 40 km rail link which requires construction of a 23 km long over-water rail bridge parallel toRam Setu to connect the existing Talaimannar Pier railway station on Mannar line in Sri Lanka with theDhanushkodi railway station in India, the plans for restoration of further 17 km Dhanushkodi-Rameswaram rail line in India, which was destroyed in cyclone, from Dhanushkodi railway station tillNew Pamban Bridge have been approved but facing delays due to environmental and other clearances pending with theGovernment of Tamil Nadu as of April 2025.^[51]

Ferry service connecting the railheads at Talaimannar and Dhanushkodi lasted until the 1960s, when a cyclone destroyed the pier and rail line in Dhanushkodi. Ferry service resumed from the Indian terminus atRameshwaram until theSri Lankan Civil War.^[50] A rail bridge (or tunnel) was proposed again during the 2000s, highlighting the benefits of connecting the ports ofColombo andTrincomalee withChennai.^[50]

Commuter rail service connects Colombo to its suburbs, helping alleviate rush-hour congestion on city roads. Local commuter trains and intercity lines use the same tracks. Colombo's commuter-rail network is 100 kilometres (62 mi) of track fromPanadura toPolgahawela via theFort andMaradana stations. The route is multi-tracked to provide rush-hour service.^[52]Electrification of the commuter-rail network has been proposed to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.^[53][32]

A1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard-gaugemetro system was proposed during the 2010s to give Colombo commuters a clean, environmentally-friendly transit option. The metro would reduce the load on the commuter-rail system and alleviate congestion on major roads.^[54] Aconsortium of three companies is conducting feasibility studies on the project.^[55]

Colombo Light Rail has received $1.25 billion in funding.^[56]

In areas with little demand for commuter trainsrailbuses are used. Railbus services exist betweenBatticaloa andTrincomalee, viaGal Oya.^[57] Railbuses are used to connectKandy withPeradeniya,^[58] and also on theKelani Valley line in Colombo.^[59]

A tram system operated in Colombo from 1899 to 1960, operated by Colombo Electric Tramways and Lighting Company before being transferred to theColombo Municipal Council on 31 August 1944.^[60]

Thestate-owned Sri Lanka Railways operates nearly all of the country's rail services, but few private railways have existed at various times. TheViceroy Specialheritage train and steam locomotive was introduced in 1986 and is still advertised as of early 2024.^[61][62]

Expolanka introduced itsExpoRail service on 6 October 2011,^[63][64] which is no longer in operation.^[63][65] TheRajadhani Express was introduced by Blue Line Express on 6 October 2011^[63][65] but ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 18 March 1964 - Night Mail Express arriving fromMannar bound for Colombo derailed at high speed, killing over 60 people nearMirigama.
• 19 January 1985 - theLTTE bombed theYal Devi, killing 11 civilians.
• 24 July 1996 - The LTTE bombed a train, resulting in 70 civilian deaths at Dehiwala.
• 19 August 2001 - A train derailed betweenAlawwa andRambukkana due to high speed and overcrowding, killing 46.
• 13 June 2002 - A train derailed entering theAlawwa railway station, killing 14.
• 26 December 2004 -2004 tsunami rail disaster - Over 1,700 people died in the world's largest rail disaster (by death toll) when a train was overwhelmed by theIndian Ocean earthquake and tsunami atPeraliya.
• 26 April 2005 -Polgahawela level crossing accident - A bus trying to pass another bus at a level crossing in Yangalmodara (nearPolgahawela) was struck by a train; 37 bus passengers died.

• 17 September 2011 - AnS11 passenger trainstruck the stopped Colombo-KandyUdarata Manike at theAlawwa railway station. Five people were killed and over 30 were injured.^[66]
• 17 May 2012 - After a train struck a stopped train, two trains collided between the Wandurawa and Keenawala stations in Veyangoda.^[67]
• 30 April 2014 - A northbound intercity express collided with the Colombo-boundRajarata Rajina at Pothuhera, injuring 68 passengers.^[68]
• 1 February 2022 - Four of same family dead as three-wheeler fatally collides withRajarata Rajina at Rillamba Junction inBoossa.^{[citation needed]}

• List of railway stations in Sri Lanka
• Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps
• National railway museum, Kadugannawa

• Winchester, Clarence, ed. (1936),"Rail transport in Ceylon",Railway Wonders of the World, pp. 1100–1105 illustrated description of the railways of Ceylon in the 1930s

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