![Train journey](/img/./thinkstodocategories/image_for_slider/21ad60be-a437-44bf-8e7a-dacf1064b395/portrait_A.jpg)
Train journey
- “No other country in the world can take you in spacious and comfortable railway carriages on a track of five feet six inches gauge, over the mountain at an altitude of more than six thousand feet – yet such facilities are provided in Ceylon”.
H.W. Cave (Page 19) – The Ceylon Government Railway
Train lines in Sri Lanka were conceived and developed by the British colonial rulers. Sir Charles Justin MacCarthy 12th Governor of British Ceylon (1860-1863) was the key in the construction of the first-ever train line in Ceylon from Colombo to Ambepussa began in 1864. The main purpose of introducing train lines to Ceylon was to transport coffee plantations in Kandy and suburbs to Colombo harbour.
In 1871 coffee plantation was destroyed by coffee blight and tea plantations were introduce in the 1880s. The tea plantations were expanded throughout the central highland resulting in the construction of the Uva train line. The train line from Peradeniya to Nawalapitiya was opened in 1874 and to Nanuoya in 1885. The most difficult and most beautiful train line from Nanuoya to Badulla via Bandarawela, Ella, and Demodara was opened in 1924. Uva train line reached 6226 feet (1897.7m) height at Pattipola, thus recorded the highest broad gauge line in the world.
The northern line from Polgahawela to Kurunegala was opened in 1894. The first train to Jaffna from Colombo was reached on 1 August 1905. The train line to Talaimannar was opened in1914 and connecting Dhanushkodi in South India by ferry, to bring Indian labour for the tea plantation.
The Batticaloa train line via Polonnaruwa and Galoya junction was opened in 1928. The train line to Trincomalee was opened in 1927. The coastal train line from Colombo to Matara via Panadura Kalutara, Aluthgama, and Galle was open step by step from 1877 to 1895.
There are few train lines in the world that cover the combination of high mountain peaks, lowlands, pastoral and wooded scenery, waterfalls, beaches, historical monuments, hundreds of acres of paddy fields, Acres of lush emerald-green tea plantations and so many. The train journey in Sri Lanka can be covered almost all the above attractions.
- “No other country in the world can take you in spacious and comfortable railway carriages on a track of five feet six inches gauge, over the mountain at an altitude of more than six thousand feet – yet such facilities are provided in Ceylon”.
H.W. Cave (Page 19) – The Ceylon Government Railway
Train lines in Sri Lanka were conceived and developed by the British colonial rulers. Sir Charles Justin MacCarthy 12th Governor of British Ceylon (1860-1863) was the key in the construction of the first-ever train line in Ceylon from Colombo to Ambepussa began in 1864. The main purpose of introducing train lines to Ceylon was to transport coffee plantations in Kandy and suburbs to Colombo harbour.
In 1871 coffee plantation was destroyed by coffee blight and tea plantations were introduce in the 1880s. The tea plantations were expanded throughout the central highland resulting in the construction of the Uva train line. The train line from Peradeniya to Nawalapitiya was opened in 1874 and to Nanuoya in 1885. The most difficult and most beautiful train line from Nanuoya to Badulla via Bandarawela, Ella, and Demodara was opened in 1924. Uva train line reached 6226 feet (1897.7m) height at Pattipola, thus recorded the highest broad gauge line in the world.
The northern line from Polgahawela to Kurunegala was opened in 1894. The first train to Jaffna from Colombo was reached on 1 August 1905. The train line to Talaimannar was opened in1914 and connecting Dhanushkodi in South India by ferry, to bring Indian labour for the tea plantation.
The Batticaloa train line via Polonnaruwa and Galoya junction was opened in 1928. The train line to Trincomalee was opened in 1927. The coastal train line from Colombo to Matara via Panadura Kalutara, Aluthgama, and Galle was open step by step from 1877 to 1895.
There are few train lines in the world that cover the combination of high mountain peaks, lowlands, pastoral and wooded scenery, waterfalls, beaches, historical monuments, hundreds of acres of paddy fields, Acres of lush emerald-green tea plantations and so many. The train journey in Sri Lanka can be covered almost all the above attractions.
Share this page