Ella Train Ticket Booking, This is all about you should know when you travelling by train in Sri Lanka 2022

Everyone, ayubowan! Vanakkam!

 

Taking the train in Sri Lanka is an unforgettable experience and a must-do for anyone visiting the country. What is the reason for this? Because the landscapes are breathtaking, and the encounters with the inhabitants are both intense and full of smiles, it feels like stepping back in time!

Yes, it's uncomfortable, noisy, and sometimes (very) crowded, and we're jolted from one side to the other like in a wringer, but this train is magical! Encounters with Sri Lankans, these street sellers selling a variety of local dishes, and even this train with decades on the clock make this an unforgettable encounter.

 

However, traveling the train in Sri Lanka is not always straightforward...

So, how do you go about doing it?

1) Book a train ticket in Sri Lanka

2) Train tracks (and train types)

3) The most important stations

4) Train timetables

5) The most lovely roads

6) Traveling by train: Tips & Tricks

7) Be wary of con artists!

8) The cost of a train ticket in Sri Lanka

 

1) Book a train ticket in Sri Lanka

Booking a train ticket in Sri Lanka is a real adventure! This, I believe, is the most frequently asked question by travelers.

First and foremost, the official website of the Sri Lankan train operator does not allow online bookings. 

The second piece of information is that only some trains have seats available for reservation. Other trains may require you to stand because no "reservable" seats are available. If you're lucky, you'll get a seat; otherwise, you'll have to stand. 

Request that your train tickets be booked in advance if you are traveling with a driver or a travel agency. It is possible provided the places are not already "sold out" because your path is typically predetermined in advance (especially in very high seasons). You've acquired your train tickets and seats, and your stuff will be transported by car with your driver.

Things can get a little more tricky if you're traveling alone. Some trains will not be available for booking until 48 hours before departure, while others will have be sold out due to travel agencies. Some will be open to the public, but not in this case. If you want a seat, you usually have to book it 4-5 days in advance, which is inconvenient when you're on the move! The following are the solutions:

 Either attempt a few days ahead of time, but chances are you'll be informed it's already full, especially during peak seasons (August, Christmas (here it's fully booked for the section mountain between December 15 and January 4 for example), February, Sri Lankan New Year, Vesak, in particular).

 

If you go to the ticket office 60 minutes before the train departs, you will almost likely get a ticket, but it will be for a standing room only (be careful, this is no longer sold on some trains). Because it's a non-guaranteed seat, it's not ideal when traveling with children or if you have a medical condition. If you go with this route, get in the habit of "jumping on the train" to find a seat. This option is available even if the ticket office informs you a few days in advance that the train is full: this means that seats on the train can be reserved, but not those in non-bookable cars!

 

- Either book your seat in advance on the internet through an English travel operator, but expect to pay ten times the ticket price... The following site has been "suggested" by readers, but I have never tested it, so I can't tell you how to receive your tickets on-site. This choice does not thrill me at all!

Some trains offer a first-class carriage with a panoramic carriage; these seats are frequently reserved far in advance by travel agents, thus there is a slim chance of seeing the color...

If you're buying your ticket yourself, keep in mind that certain stations have counters designated to specific destinations, so check the signs carefully.

2) Train tracks (and train types)

In Sri Lanka, there are various railway lines; I'll go through them in more detail below, and you can find the train map in Sri Lanka:

Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Badulla - Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Badulla - Colombo - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella

On the Colombo-Kandy route, you'll witness rice fields stretching as far as the eye can reach, as well as the Kandy valley, which is spectacular at the end.

The tea plantations and Sri Lankan highlands can be found on the Kandy-Badulla stretch.

As a warning, the tea fields/mountains section will be almost entirely populated with tourists... To prevent disappointment at local meetings, be on the safe side. Colombo - Anuradhapura - Jaffna is the northern line.

It's a pleasant journey because it's a little "savannah" in places, and especially when you reach in Sri Lanka's northern peninsula, which I can only suggest. The Jaffna arrival station lies in the centre of the city.

The line to the east: Colombo - Polonnaruwa - Batticaloa or Trincomalee Ideal during the summer since it offers access to the east coast during peak season, such as Nilaveli and Uppuveli, which are close to Trincomalee.

Several readers have previously told me that on the Colombo-Trincomalee night flight, the reclining seat is preferable to the 1st class berth, which isn't particularly comfy.

Colombo - Galle - Matara is the southern / coastal line.

This train ride along the coast is beautiful, but it's a long one!! I acknowledge that with the new highway nearby, the choice between travelling 8 hours by rail or 2.5 hours by bus between Colombo and Matara is frequently immediately perceived... However, if you want to travel from Galle to Hikkaduwa or Bentota, for example, the journey becomes shorter and more pleasant.

The train is sluggish and has a number of stops, but it is a good way to get to towns near Colombo.

3) The most important stations

 

 

Nuwara Eliya( Nanu Oya) train station is an important train station in Sri Lanka. Colombo Fort is the most well-known station. You can travel practically anyplace in the country from there, including the north, south, east, and center!

It's really simple to navigate; you start with the counts and then go on to the platforms. Without a ticket, you will not be able to access the platforms.

Then there's Kandy train station, which is rather large and provides easy access to the mountains.

Nanu Oya station is located around 20 minutes by tuk tuk from Nuwara Eliya.

The nearest station to Kandy from Negombo is Veyangoda, which is roughly 30/40 minutes away by automobile.

Ella station, for the record, was awarded the distinction for "best station master" and "best adorned station in Sri Lanka." Don't be shocked if you find flower pots strewn over the stations!

Tangalle does not yet have a station, but it is in the works.

 

4) Train timetables

All train schedules are available on the official website: https://eservices.railway.gov.lk.

Choose a date, but don't include schedules, and you'll have all the information you need. Please keep in mind that the rates listed do not include the cost of your reservation.

On the webpage, Ella is referred to as "Elle."

5) When taking the train in Sri Lanka, the most attractive routes

Let's be crazy, let's go crazy, it's unmistakably the Kandy- Ella! (or Ella-Kandy, if you choose)

We travel through breathtaking tea plantations and woodlands! So, even though this road has become overrun with visitors and practically deserted by people, it remains breathtaking in terms of scenery.

If you don't want to endure the 6-7 hour rail ride from Kandy to Ella, the Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya station) to Ella route takes about 3 hours.

The trip from Kandy to Colombo (or vice versa) is also spectacular. We drive through rice fields on our way to the valley near Kandy, which is gorgeous. Certainly not comparable to the tea fields, but this tour is far from absurd!

6) Traveling by train: Tips & Tricks

Here's a quick rundown of some useful train tips and tricks in Sri Lanka:

Because the train is a local mode of transportation, we dress appropriately, especially for women (shoulders and knees covered).

If possible, sit on the right in the direction of travel for the Colombo-Kandy route. As a result, as you approach Kandy, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the entire valley.

It is preferable to turn right in the direction of travel on the Kandy-Haputale route.

 The left side of the Haputale-Ella part is more attractive (always in the direction of travel).

 If you don't have a reserved seat in Kandy, board right before Peradeniya station. So all you have to do when everyone gets off in Kandy is jump on a seat! (It is a national sport in Sri Lanka, I tell you.)

If you're taking the coastal line, travel up to Colombo Maradana, the station right before Colombo Fort, to see if you can get a seat.

On the Colombo-Matara railway, the right side should be preferred (direction of travel). 

Do not hesitate to request that the conductor open the train door and place you there during your ride! Inevitably, we hold on tight, not taking our feet or arms out merely to return with all of our limbs, but rather to take advantage of the vista, the feeling of freedom, and the fact that we can snap great images without the use of glass! Even when I have a reserved seat, I enjoy sitting on the floor on the doorsteps

During periods of high tourist traffic, don't be afraid to turn your journey around and choose routes like Ella-Kandy, which will have fewer people.

Ticket offices will always be present in the stations! You will be passed (this is Sri Lanka, after all), but impose yourself and don't try to cheat; there are controllers in the trains and on the platforms!!

There will not be enough space on the train for bulky bags..

7) Be mindful of station scammers!

Fake dealers are increasingly appearing in stations and/or on platforms! They will increase your fare and board you on the train. No, no, you have a counter, plainly visible in the station, where you can purchase tickets at face value.

8) The cost of a train ticket in Sri Lanka

Don't be deceived by these "helping" individuals who are actually out to defraud you! So you buy your tickets at a regular counter and don't be afraid to ask people for directions. You must exercise extreme caution when dealing with solicitors in the United Kingdom, as in any other country.

 

What a disaster, it's easily less than 10USD. Of course, I'm joking! A seat reservation for a railway trip in Sri Lanka will rarely cost you more than 1000 rupees, so don't hesitate.

It's worth noting that a first-class berth might cost anything from 1000 to 1500 rupees.

Although the third class is correct, I like to travel in the second class because the chairs are a little comfier when I don't want to spend my journey at the train's entrance.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please leave a comment below. Have a safe train ride!

Write to us : melanskies@gmail.com

 

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