Railway service is an integral part of transportation in Sri Lanka. An extensive rail network has operated covering most parts of the country.

The railway service of Sri Lanka has started in 1864 under the British colonial rulers. The introduction of railway service in Sri Lanka was highly influenced by the planters.  From around 1840 coffee plantation was thrived in the central parts of the country. While the rapid expansion of coffee plantation during the 1850s and 60s the necessity of cost-effective and speedy solutions for transporting their products to Colombo port to export them to Europe has aroused.

Tea plantation in Sri Lanka increased dramatically between 1880 to 1900. Thus more and more labour and machinery were required to transport to major tea plantations area in central highlands. Railway lines to Matale and Badulla were constructed to meet the requirement of the planters.

A requirement has aroused to transport the rubber and coconut products from the plantations in the low country. The railway lines from the coastal area of Galle and Matara in the south, Negombo in the west and Puttalam in the northwest were constructed to connect with Colombo port.

Line extensions to Jaffna and Kankesanthurai via Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya connecting north and north-central parts and to Talaimannar via Mannar have been done to bring labour from south India and imports foodstuffs required for them.

The ferry service connecting the railheads at Talaimannar and Dhanushkodi has started in 1914 operated until a cyclone destroyed the pier and rail line at Dhanushkodi in the 1960s. The new railhead at Rameshwaram has resumed after that and was lasting till 1990. The ferry service has stopped due to unhealthy security condition in 1990.

The natural harbour in Trincomalee has strategically become highly important for the British colonist. Therefore, Trincomalee and Batticaloa have connected with the railway network.

Narrow-gauge lines were constructed from Colombo to Ratnapura called KV line for serve rubber, coffee and tea plantations and Udapussellawa line from Nanuoya to Ragala via Nuwara Eliya for serving tea plantation. Operations of the KV line started in 1912 and the Udapussellawa line in 1904. However, Udapussellawa line operations were suspended in 1948 due to less economic viability and sustainability. The Ratnapura - Avissawella section of the KV line was closed down in 1976. At present, the KV line is operating as a broad gauge line up to Avissawella. 

Today 1508km (937 miles) long broad gauge railway network has been operated in Sri Lanka.  All these rail routes have offered the magnificent scenic beauty of Sri Lanka.  You just sit back and enjoy the combined experience through white sandy beaches, wetlands, a succession of deep gorges and high mountains with dazzling waterfalls, emerald green tea gardens, tropical rain forest, World Heritage sites and seas like blue lochs in your train journeys in Sri Lanka.

Train journeys give you the freedom to get up and move around which cannot be done in any other mode of transportation. In Sri Lanka, you have the ample opportunity to move with local people and experience their culture while on your train journey.

During the 1970s Ceylon Government Railway at that time has organized rail tours to most of the main tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. These all-inclusive package tours by luxury air-conditioned Japanese Hitachi train has popular among tourist in that period.

Most of the long-distance trains have a designated 1st class, 2nd class, and even 3rd class received compartment today. Seats can be received 30 days in advance.

If you want to have something extra on your tour itinerary, plan one of the following train journeys in Sri Lanka. 

Train journeys to the hill country

Colombo to Peradeniya and Kandy or Nanuoya, Haputale, Ella and Badulla

Train journey to the south coast

Colombo to Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa and Matara

Train journeys to the northern end 

Colombo to Anuradhapura and Mannar or Jaffna

Train journeys to the east coasts

Colombo to Aukana, Habarana, Polonnaruwa, Kalkudha, Batticaloa or Trincomalee

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