Trains

Introduction
Some people may joke that train travel in Sri Lanka is for people with little money and lots of time, but for tourists it is a wonderfully appealing mode of travel, especially in the island’s highlands where the scenery can be breathtaking at times. The downside is that for some routes the train can be slower than a car and delays are common.

Train routes available

The railway network, which began operating in 1864, comprises nine lines radiating from Colombo, the most beautiful of which runs deep into the hills, travelling via Kandy and Nuwara Eliya before terminating in Badulla. This journey offers spectacular hill-country views as the train winds its way past gushing waterfalls and through neatly-clipped tea estates. There is also a useful train line for tourists travelling along the south coast from Colombo to Matara which stops in Bentota and Galle. There is also a train to Trincomalee, which travels through the Cultural Triangle, but travelling by car is preferable in terms of comfort and time.