List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka

This article contains a list of named passenger trains in Sri Lanka, by operator.

Sri Lanka Railways

Regular Services

In the mid-1950s, Sri Lanka Railways, under the leadership of B. D. Rampala, started to name major passenger services.^[1]

Udarata Menike, runs through the scenic Sri Lankan hill country

The Yal Devi train at Kurunegala, travelling between Omanthai and Colombo Fort

The Deyata Kirula express train at Kurunegala, travelling between Kilinochchi and Colombo Fort

• Udarata Menike (Upcountry Maiden) - No. 1015 & 1016^[2]
  • Runs between Colombo and Badulla^[3]
• Podi Menike (Little Maiden) - No. 1005 & 1006^[2]
  • Connects Colombo and Badulla (no longer runs via Kandy, only through coaches to Kandy)^[3]
• Tikiri Menike (Little Maiden) - No. 1023 & 1024
  • Colombo to Hatton
• Senkadagala Menike (Maiden of “Senkadagala” – area name) - No. 1035 & 1036
  • Runs between Colombo and Kandy
• Yal Devi (Princess/Queen of Jaffna) - No. 4001 & 4002^[2]
  • Runs between Colombo and Kankasanthurei via Jaffna ^[4][5]
• Uttara Dewi
  • From Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai (Inetercity).
• Udaya Devi or Uthaya Devi (Princess/Queen of the Rise -East) - No. 6011 & 6012^[2]
  • Runs between Colombo and Batticaloa
• Rajarata Rajina (Queen(regnant) of the land of kings) - No. 8085, 8086, 4085, & 4086^[2]
  • Runs between Vavuniya and Matara via Colombo
• Ruhunu Kumari (Princess of “Ruhuna” – southern province) - No. 8058 & 8059^[2]
  • Between Colombo(Maradana) and Matara
• Samudra Devi (Queen of the Oceans) - No. 8760 & 8327^[2]
  • Colombo to Galle^[6]
• Galu Kumari (Princess of Galle) - No. 8056 & 8057^[2]
  • Colombo(Maradana) to Matara
• Sagarika (Name of Ocean in Sinhala Language) - No. 8096 & 8097^[2]
  • Colombo (Maradana) to Galle^[7]
• Siyanae Kumari - No.8039 & 8040
  • Operates between Kandy and Matara
• Nayana Kumari - No.8062 & 8063
  • Operates between Colombo and Hikkaduwa
• Muthu Kumari (Princess of Pearls) - No. 3427 & 3803^[2]
  • Operates between Colombo and Chilaw
• Meena Gaya - No. 6079^[2]
  • Runs between Colombo and Batticaloa(Intercity)
• Deyata Kirula - No. 4017 & 4018.^[2] Operating since 11 September 2011.
  • Operates between Colombo and Jaffna

Discontinued Services

• Boat Mail (discontinued since 23 December 1964)^[8]
  • Service was operated between Colombo and Chennai, India, with ferry service to cross Rama Sethu.
• Hijra
  • Colombo Fort to Batticaloa via Trincomalee
• Denuwara Manike
  • From Colombo Fort to Kandy

Special Services

• Bradby Express - Colombo to Kandy (connecting the Colombo and Kandy legs of the annual Bradby Shield Encounter of rugby union)^[9]

Airport & Aviation Services

• Airport Express - Colombo Secretariat to Bandaranaike International Airport using a Hitachi Class S5 DMU4.

J.F. Tours & Travels

• Viceroy Special - Colombo to Kandy, Badulla, or Galle; by charter (Tourist excursion train powered by steam)^[10]

See also

• Sri Lanka Railways

References

1. "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.
2. "Sri Lanka Railways Timetable"
3. "A beginner's guide to Train travel in Sri Lanka . . ."
4. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14B/Oct13_1413188982CH.php
5. "Dailynews". President requests patriotic citizens: Join us in building Northern rail track. 2009-03-24.
6. "The Island". Samudra Devi in a Tangle of Love!. 2009-07-12.
7. "Dailynews". Fifty Sagarika train passengers fined. 2010-10-14.
8. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html Famous Trains
9. "The Bradby express". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
10. Viceroy Vintage Train Tours