Go there, like they do!
It’s so cheap and it’s so much fun. The best way to get across Sri Lanka in by train and I don’t think there is any other way to. To see the land on one side and the beach on another. That’s heaven, right there.
— James Borton.
Sri Lanka is a one of the sought after locations in the world, and true to the word, it is infact one of the highest rated travel destinations voted in 2018. Many people visit Sri Lanka for its lush green scenery and stunning blue beaches. Sri Lanka offers itself as a cheaper alternative for tourist who want to explore Maldives or Mauritius instead. The Sri Lankan Railways (SLR), started operations in 1858 as the Ceylon Railway Corporation and over the years became SLR and redefined its operations by increasing its network and operating newer locomotives, thus creating a bustling rail network connecting all four corners of the island.
The Sri Lankan rail network is 1,508 km (937 mi) of 5 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.
At The Chikkiboo Travel Co., we always stride in making the process of travel simpler for our customers. In Sri Lanka, apart from our regular travel itinerary we also offer the scenic Kandy – Nuwara Eliya rail journey, which is one of the sought after rail journeys in the world with winding tracks running through hilly mountains and green tea plantations. In SLR, unlike other countries, the tickets cannot be booked online. One has to be physically present to receive the tickets and the tickets have to be booked at least 15 days in advance if visiting during the peak season.
The train comes in 3 class configurations, 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd. The 1st and 2nd are booked through reservation only. The first class is fully air conditioned and the windows cannot be opened, the 2nd class has recliner seats and the windows can be opened, the 3rd class doesn’t need reservation and can be occupied on first-come-first basis. The trains are segmented into Express, Intercity and Night Mails, the latter being the slowest.
The train routes are categorised into North, South, East and West networks, connecting all four corners of the island. The Colombo Fort station is the operating hub of SLR and most of the trains originate from this station. The tickets are less expensive in SLR and tickets in 3rd class for a Colombo – Jaffna can cost within USD5/- with the first class costing USD10/-
Some of the most important routes are as follows:
Colombo – Jaffna
Colombo – Bentota – Galle – Matara
Colombo – Trincomalee
Colombo – Kandy – Nanu Oya
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