Hello everyone here / Hola a todos aqui.
I am writing this blog to share my experience of Sri Lankan Trains as a Solo Traveler, many of you already have visited Sri Lanka and may know this but am gonna share it anyway ;)
I Traveled in these routes in same sequence and class as written below:
Colombo Fort to Kandy 120KM - (07:00AM...
more... - 09:31AM) - INTERCITY Train - 2nd Class Reserved
Train/loco seemed vintage, red coaches, seats were uncomfortable, Lots of tourists, easily got ticket in 2nd class, 1st class was full. (300LKR maybe).
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) 86KM - (08:47AM - 12:40PM) - EXPRESS TRAIN - 2nd class unreserved
Horrible Journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya - 14km from Nuwara Eliya), got 2nd class ticket but it was jam packed already before it reached Kandy. All were tourists, i couldn't get inside coach just stood in doorway with 12 other fellow tourists with backpacks on floor and phone/camera in hands ready to capture the scenic view of hills and tea plantation, train was 90 minutes late due to crossing of train coming from Ella. (220LKR)
Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya) to Ella 64KM - (09:18AM - 12:31PM)- Mixed Train - 3rd class Unreserved
Same route just got 3rd class because i had learned lesson before (bought 2nd class ticket and still couldn't get inside). Train arrived and i got inside coach and eventually got seat just 20 minutes before my destination station. This train was too jam packed with tourists. This route considered to be the most famous railway route in Sri Lanka but for me it was little nightmare as i was inside coach, away from windows and unfortunately i couldn't capture anything, i could just stare outside. (100LKR maybe)
After Ella i took bus to Galle (changed 2 times)
Galle to Colombo Fort 111KM - (10:55AM - 13:15PM) - Express Train - 3rd Class Unreserved
Bought 3rd class unreserved ticket and got seat easily ride was jerky but beautiful because more than 40% route is next to sea :) (100LKR I guess)
Took bus to Negombo from Colombo fort (150LKR)
Negombo to Colombo Fort 38KM (13:00PM - 14:24PM) - Commuter train - 3rd Class Unreserved
Took commuter train, was empty and daily commuter boarded at intermediate stations but still less occupancy due to not peak hours. (50LKR)
Colombo Fort to Jaffna 397KM (8:30PM - 05:10AM) - Night Mail Express - 3rd class Reserved
Got reserved 3rd class seat(pic attached, red seats inside coach) and it was pretty comfortable as my back didn't hurt in morning and i was able to sleep for 1 hour or so during whole night, reached Jaffna around 6AM. (600LKR)
Jaffna to Colombo Fort 397KM (09:35AM - 18:35PM) - LONG DISTANCE Express - 2nd Class Reserved
Arrived Jaffna at 9AM and was comfortable journey (pic attached, cream seats inside coach, 90% empty from Jaffna), i didn't thought it would be comfortable, it had 2 reserved coaches one is 1st class, second 2nd class, rest were unreserved(over crowded like Indian trains). (800LKR because at reservation counter he gave me ticket for train's end destination mount lavia hence charged me 100LKR more)
Some Railway Stations(Colombo Fort) are vintage style like in British Era. Some are new Architecture(Jaffna), every station has Free Drinking water and Refreshment stalls and major stations have canteen/restaurant. At night Colombo Fort station is like Chennai Central station, lots of commuter trains(all jam-packed till doors) whole station was full of commuters.
I took several pictures and videos, i didn't upload videos(maybe some other time), i took these with my phone(iPhone XS Max). Apology for bad angles/quality pictures. I hope you enjoy these pictures as i did while traveling :)
