Coastal line (Sri Lanka)


The coastal line is a major railway line in Sri Lanka, running between Colombo Fort and Beliatta, via Galle and Matara. Operated by Sri Lanka Railways, the line includes some of the busiest rail services in the country. The line has been extended to Beliatta on 8 April 2019 and is proposed to be extended to Kataragama, via Hambantota. With a designed maximum speed of between Kalutara and Matara, and a maximum speed of between Matara and Beliatta, the line is one of the fastest in Sri Lanka.

Route definition

The Coastal line begins at Maradana Station and runs west towards Colombo Fort. It then turns south and runs through much of Colombo parallel to the beaches on the city's west coast, passing many commuter rail stations, such as Slave Island. It passes Panadura before reaching Kalutara. The commuter rail services end as the line continues south along the coast towards Galle.
Galle station is designed as a terminus station. Thus trains have to back out of the station to continue towards Matara and Beliatta. Beliatta is the current terminus of the Coast line, though extension is under construction to Hambantota and Kataragama.

History

Construction and launch

This line was the second railway line in Sri Lanka. Construction works started after Colombo–Kandy–Badulla Main Line. On 1 March 1877 first train up to Panadura was commenced. On 1 February 1878, trains ran up to Kalutara and one year after that on 1 February 1879 Wadduwa Station was declared open. On 22 September 1879 inaugural opening of Kalutara North and Kalutara South Stations and ran first train to Kalutara South. On 31 March 1890 line extended to Kalutara South to Aluthgama. Then up to Kosgoda on 8 September 1892 and Kosgoda to Ambalangoda on 15 November 1893. On 7 May 1894 British government completed the construction works to Galle. After nearly a year and half later on 17 December 1895 train services to Matara commenced.

Twentieth-century growth

In the mid-twentieth century, the coastal line experienced many changes to accommodate growing traffic. Galle Station was upgraded with better facilities and modern architecture. Express trains began serving the line, including the now celebrated Ruhunu Kumari. Along with the rest of the railway network, diesel traction replaced steam locomotives on all services.

Tsunami disaster and aftermath

The railway line was severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. A train was swept off the track, killing more than 1500, in the worst rail disaster in history.

Track upgrade

In 2011–2012, the Coastal Line underwent complete reconstruction between Kalutara and Matara, to upgrade the track. The line was upgraded to be able to handle trains at, allowing for shorter journey times and smoother service. The upgrade included replacing the rails and sleepers to ensure smoother and safer operation. The previously 3-hours-and-forty-minute travel time between Colombo and Matara has been reduced to just two hours.

Matara–Kataragama extension

The railway is being extended from Matara to Kataragama in the Southern Railway project.
Phase 1 extended the railway 26.8 km from Matara to Beliatta at a cost of million. The China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation broke ground on Phase 1 in 2013. The line includes two bridges of 1.5 km and 1.04 km in length, the longest on Sri Lanka's railway network. There is also a 615 meter long tunnel at Kekanadura. The maximum track speed is. The Matara–Beliatta extension opened to traffic on 8 April 2019, the first new railway built in Sri Lanka since independence from Great Britain in 1948.
Phase 2 will serve the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota at a cost of million, and Phase 3 will reach Kataragama. The alignment shifts inland after Beliatta to protect sensitive natural habitats along the coast and minimise damage to property. A feasibility study and an environment impact assessment for the Beliatta to Hambantota and Kataragama phases of construction has been approved by the Cabinet. Construction has not yet begun as of April 2019.

Operators and service providers

Sri Lanka Railways operates passenger services on the coastal line.
Rajadhani Express operates a premium service on certain Sri Lanka Railways trains on the coastal line, in partnership with Sri Lanka Railways.

Infrastructure

The coastal line has a gauge of broad gauge.
The coastal line is not electrified. Regular services run on diesel power. However, there are plans to electrify the commuter-rail network, within the Colombo metropolitan area. This includes the coastal-line segment between Colombo Fort and Panadura.
In February 2017 a project to expand the single-track railway to a double-track railway from Kalutara to Paiyagala was launched

Timetable

Downwards

Train No.Starting stationDeparture timeDestination stationArrival timeNameFrequency
8708Aluthgama04.05Galle06.40Mon. to Fri.
Maradana04.30Panadura05.25Daily
Maradana05.05Panadura05.53Daily
Maradana05.38Kalutara South07.15Daily
Maradana05.52Panadura06.47Mon. to Sat.
8060Maradana06.05Beliatta09.16Sat. and Sun.
Maradana06.24Panadura07.19Mon. to Fri.
8050Maradana06.30Beliatta11.21Daily
8719Aluthgama06.30Galle08.17Mon. to Fri.
Galle06.50Matara07.59Saturday only
Maradana06.53Moratuwa07.28Mon. to Fri.
Maradana07.00Panadura07.51Mon. to Fri.
Maradana07.00Panadura08.40Sat. and Sun.
Galle07.00Matara08.16Mon. to Fri. and Sunday
Maradana07.17Moratuwa08.01Mon. to Fri.
Maradana07.27Panadura08.25Sat. and Sun.
Maradana07.31Panadura08.40Mon. to Fri.
Maradana07.35Mount Lavinia08.15Mon. to Fri.
Maradana07.54Panadura08.51Mon. to Fri.
Maradana08.06Moratuwa08.50Mon. to Fri.
Maradana08.11Mount Lavinia08.46Mon. to Sat.
Maradana08.28Mount Lavinia09.06Sundays and Holidays
Colombo Fort08.35Matara11.50Daily
Maradana08.35Kalutara South10.01Daily
Maradana09.05Kalutara South11.17Daily
Mount Lavinia09.35Aluthgama10.53Sat. and Sun.
Kalutara South10.10Aluthgama10.42Daily
8086Colombo Fort10.30Beliatta14.42Rajarata RejiniDaily
Maradana11.10Aluthgama13.07Daily
Maradana12.05Kalutara South13.29Mon. to Fri.
Maradana12.30Kalutara South13.54Sat. and Sun.
8788Aluthgama13.15Galle15.10Daily
Maradana13.30Panadura14.25Mon. to Fri.
Ginthota13.40Galle13.50Mon. to Fri.
Maradana14.05Aluthgama16.11Daily
8056Maradana14.15Beliatta18.25Daily
Galle14.15Matara15.31Mon. to Fri.
Maradana14.30Panadura15.35Daily
8054Maradana15.00Beliatta18.25Dhakshina Express Daily
Maradana15.20Panadura16.27Daily
8058Maradana15.40Matara18.20Ruhunu KumariDaily
Maradana15.50Mount Lavinia16.32Mon. to Fri.
Maradana16.00Moratuwa16.39Mon. to Fri.
Maradana16.10Kalutara South17.15Mon. to Fri.
Maradana16.15Kalutara South17.39Mon. to Fri.
Maradana16.25Panadura17.15Mon. to Fri.
8096Maradana16.40Beliatta20.04SagarikaMon. to Fri.
Maradana16.40Hikkaduwa18.56Sunday only
Maradana16.45Induruwa18.34Mon. to Fri.
Maradana16.45Aluthgama18.51Sat. and Sun.
Maradana16.55Hikkaduwa18.51Mon. to Fri.
Maradana17.10Wadduwa18.23Mon. to Fri.
8096Maradana17.20Galle19.33SagarikaSat. and Sun.
8760Maradana17.25Galle20.10Samudra DeviMon. to Fri.
8764Maradana17.30Galle21.07Mon. to Fri.
Maradana17.40Aluthgama19.51Mon. to Fri.
8766Maradana17.50Beliatta22.15Mon. to Fri.
8764Maradana17.50Galle21.22Sat. and Sun.
Colombo Fort17.52Matara20.42Sunday only
Maradana17.55Matara21.38Mon. to Fri.
Maradana18.10Aluthgama20.07Daily
Maradana18.25Aluthgama20.45Daily
8775Maradana18.45Galle22.55Night MailDaily
Maradana19.45Aluthgama21.40Monday to Friday and Sunday
Maradana19.45Panadura20.40Saturday only
Colombo Fort20.00Mount Lavinia20.31Daily
Colombo Fort20.19Moratuwa21.00Special Trains8/3
Maradana20.35Panadura22.10Mon. to Fri.
Maradana20.35Kalutara South21.57Sunday only
Maradana21.30Aluthgama23.25Daily

Upwards

Starting stationDeparture timeDestination stationTimeNameFrequency
Aluthgama03.20Colombo Fort05.10Daily
Galle03.40Maradana07.01Night MailMon. to Fri.
Aluthgama03.50Colombo Fort05.40Daily
Galle04.15Maradana07.45Mon. to Fri.
Aluthgama04.30Colombo Fort06.22Mon. to Sat.
Matara04.55Maradana08.16SagarikaMon. to Fri.
Galle05.00Maradana07.54Samudra DeviMon. to Sat.
Matara05.05Galle06.50Mon. to Fri.
Mount Lavinia05.10Colombo Fort05.35IntercityDaily
Aluthgama05.20Maradana07.28Mon. to Fri.
Galle05.25Kalutara South07.45Mon. to Fri.
Hikkaduwa05.25Maradana07.50Mon. to Fri.
Aluthgama05.25Maradana07.40Sat. and Sun.
Mount Lavinia05.50Colombo Fort06.17YaldeviDaily
Matara06.05Maradana08.49Ruhunu KumariDaily
Aluthgama06.05Maradana08.08Mon. to Fri.
Matara06.10Maradana09.38Galu KumariMon. to Fri. and Sun.
Panadura06.10Maradana07.07Daily
Panadura06.30Maradana07.41Mon. to Fri.
Panadura06.55Colombo Fort07.42Mon. to Sat.
Aluthgama07.00Maradana09.30Mon. to Fri.
Matara07.10Galle08.13Mon. to Fri.
Kalutara South07.20Colombo Fort08.33Mon. to Fri.
Panadura07.30Maradana08.28Not on Sundays
Moratuwa07.50Maradana08.34Not on Saturdays and Sundays
Panadura08.05Maradana09.07Daily
Moratuwa08.05Maradana08.46Mon. to Fri.
Galle09.00Colombo Fort13.03Mon. to Sat.
Moratuwa09.00Maradana09.42Mon. to Fri.
Panadura09.15Maradana10.13Working days only
Mount Lavinia09.15Maradana09.50Mon. to Sat.
Panadura09.35Maradana10.41Daily
Matara09.40Colombo Fort13.15Rajarata RejiniDaily
Matara10.25Galle11.33Mon. to Fri.
Kalutara South10.45Maradana12.10Daily
Kalutara South12.20Maradana14.15Daily
Galle13.05Aluthgama14.43Daily
Galle13.15Ginthota13.25Mon. to Fri.
Matara13.35Colombo Fort17.14Daily
Aluthgama13.40Maradana15.31Mon. to Fri.
Kalutara South13.40Maradana15.01Mon. to Fri.
Aluthgama13.40Maradana15.35Sat. and Sun.
Galle13.55Aluthgama15.59Mon. to Fri.
Matara14.10Maradana18.12Daily
Panadura15.00Maradana15.55Mon. to Fri.
Matara15.15Galle16.18Daily
Panadura16.10Colombo Fort17.11Daily
Mount Lavinia16.10Colombo Fort16.42Mon. to Fri.
Aluthgama16.15Colombo Fort18.33Mon. to Fri.
Aluthgama16.15Colombo Fort18.45Sat. and Sun.
Moratuwa16.45Colombo Fort17.18Mon. to Fri.
Matara17.00Galle18.16Mon. to Fri.
Galle17.05Aluthgama18.57Daily
Panadura17.05Colombo Fort18.04Daily
Moratuwa17.10Colombo Fort17.49Mon. to Fri.
Kalutara South17.30Colombo Fort18.36Mon. to Fri.
Panadura17.40Colombo Fort18.29Mon. to Fri.
Kalutara South17.45Colombo Fort18.52Mon. to Fri.
Wadduwa18.30Maradana19.35Mon. to Fri.