Sri Lanka Railways

M6 locomotive pulling the Udarata Menike from Badulla to Colombo

An S13 DMU

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

The first locomotives pulled trains during the 1860s on the original 54-kilometre (34 mi) main line connecting Colombo and Ambepussa.[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-operating electric 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(?)	-	45ft.	Out of Service; a few maybe spotted with departmental duty trains.
	2	?	China	1964(?)	44	55ft.	Almost all scrapped; Few TV (Third Class Guard Van) are in service with freight trains and also with 2007 made chinese coach rakes.
-	3	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1976	13	55ft.	1st Batch of Romanian coaches
-	4	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1979-1980	188	55ft. & 45ft.	2nd Batch of Romanian coaches
	5	BEML	India	1980	34	45ft. & 50ft.	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	55ft.	3rd Batch of Romanian coaches
	7	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1989	130	55ft. & 45ft.	4th Batch of Romanian coaches. Later refurbished by Tantri Trailer (Pvt.) Ltd.
	8	Astra Rail Industries	Romania	1990s	312	55ft. & 45ft.	5th Batch of Romanian coaches. Later refurbished by Tantri Trailer (Pvt.) Ltd.
	9	?	China	2007-2008	100	65ft.	Withdrawn from service in 2020 due to faulty brake system.[19] Later few coaches were restored after brake retrofitting with limited services.
	10	Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai	India	2020-2022	160	65ft.	Ordered to replace faulty Chinese coaches and Romanian coaches nearing end of service life. Mainly to be used for services in Northern & Coastal lines.

Most of the passenger coaches that are in service are either manufactured by the Romanian Astra Rail Industries[20][21] or by ICF, Chennai.[22] On most lines, service is being upgraded with long-haul diesel multiple units from CSR Corporation and India's RITES.[10][11][23]

Although electrification was first proposed in 1928, the cabinet did not approve the electrification of suburban railways until 2015. Electrification of the Panadura-Veyangoda line is proposed in phase one of the Western Region Megapolis plan with a soft loan from the Asian Development Bank.[28][29][30]

A contract was signed by Malaysia's Airport Express Air and Rail Company and the government of Sri Lanka for a new electric rail line between Negombo 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, the Institution 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 to Maradana, Maradana to Kaluthara and Ragama to Negombo, their voltage systems are unknown. Fifteen electric multiple units will be imported for commuter service.[33]

Much of the network uses a lock-and-block signaling system. During the mid-twentieth century, the busiest sectors (around Colombo) were upgraded to electronic signalling connected to a CTC control panel at the Maradana railway station.[9]

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

After the 2011 Alawwa rail accident, SLR began installing a GPS-based train-protection system on its fleet. The system warns a train 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 to Ambepussa, 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 to Kandy in 1867, to Nawalapitiya in 1874, to Nanu-Oya in 1885, to Bandarawela in 1894, and to Badulla in 1924.[37] Other lines were completed to link the country: the Matale Line in 1880, the Coast Line in 1895, the Northern Line in 1905, the Mannar Line in 1914, the Kelani Valley Line in 1919, the Puttalam Line in 1926, and the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Lines in 1928.[38]

Main Line

The Main Line begins in Colombo and runs east and north past the developing centres of Ragama, Ganemulla Gampaha, Veyangoda, Mirigama, Ambepussa and Polgahawela. At Rambukkana, the line begins a steep climb into the hills. The track runs along the edge of sheer cliffs between Balana and Kadugannawa, allowing passengers a view of Batalegala. The line then continues climbing through tea country, connecting market centers at Gampola, Nawalapitiya and Hatton before reaching Nanu Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still visited for its temperate climate, classic hotels and British-style gardens. The Main Line reaches its summit at Pattipola, 6,226 feet (1,898 m) above sea level, before descending past Bandarawela to Badulla. Passengers can view tea gardens, mountains, valleys and waterfalls.

Coastal line

The coastal line's Matara terminus

The coastal line runs south from Colombo, following the Indian Ocean, with views of tropical beaches and coconut palm trees. It links the regional centres of Moratuwa, Panadura and Kalutara, and beach resorts at Aluthgama, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa. The line continues past Galle (known for its historic, preserved Dutch fort), ending in Beliatta.

From 1895 to 2013, the line ended in Matara.[39] From 2013 to 2019, the China 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 serve Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota, and phase three will reach Kataragama; in April 2019, they had not yet begun construction.[40]

Puttalam line

The Puttalam line branches off the Main Line at Ragama, extending north past Kandana Ja-Ela, Seeduwa, Katunayake (Colombo International Airport) and Negombo (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 and Puttalam. 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 by Holcim trains to haul cement.

Kelani Valley line

The Kelani Valley line extends from Maradana east to Avissawella. Originally a narrow-gauge line, it was converted to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge between 1991 and 1997. The line connects the Colombo suburbs in the district with the city.

Matale line

The Matale line branches off the Main Line at Peradeniya Junction, near the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. It runs to Kandy, home of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha), before descending to Matale.

Northern line

Northern line

The northern line branches north from the Main Line at Polgahawela, passing Kurunegala (capital of North Western Province) before continuing to the cultural center of Anuradhapura: 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 at Kankesanthurai on the Jaffna Peninsula, past Kilinochchi.[42]

Mannar line

The Mannar line branches westward from the northern line at Medawachchiya, passing Madhu Road (location of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu) and continuing to Mannar Island: home of the district capital and terminus of the former Talaimannar line.

Batticaloa line

The Batticaloa line branches eastward from the northern line at Maho to Polonnaruwa, site of an 11th-century capital and home to a number of historic monuments, before continuing to the city of Batticaloa.[43]

Trincomalee line

The Trincomalee line branches north and east from the Batticaloa line at Gal Oya Junction and extends to Trincomalee.

Mihintale line

The Mihintale line is a short branch line which connects Mihintale (home of the Mihintale Temple, where Thera Mahinda – who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka – arrived) with Anuradhapura (the capital of Sri Lanka for over 100 years) via the northern line. It branches off the latter at Mihintale 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 and freight service,[26] and includes hubs at Colombo Fort and Maradana.

3rd class train tickets for travel on the Coastal Line

• Intercity express: Among the fastest trains, with few stops. Passengers get special tickets and pay a premium.
• Night mail: Night-time express trains with freight transport
• Express: Links Colombo and major transport hubs
• Suburban: Stops at each station on the route

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

Commuter trains

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 from Panadura to Polgahawela via the Fort and Maradana stations. The route is multi-tracked to provide rush-hour service.[50] Electrification of the commuter-rail network has been proposed to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.[51][32]

A 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard-gauge metro 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.[52] A consortium of three companies is conducting feasibility studies on the project.[53]

Colombo Light Rail has received $1.25 billion in funding.[54]

In areas with little demand for commuter trains railbuses are used. Railbus services exist between Batticaloa and Trincomalee, via Gal Oya.[55] Railbuses are used to connect Kandy with Peradeniya,[56] and also on the Kelani Valley line in Colombo.[57]

A tram system operated in Colombo from 1899 to 1960, operated by Colombo Electric Tramways and Lighting Company before being transferred to the Colombo Municipal Council on 31 August 1944.[58]