Sri Lanka
2.4 Sri Lanka Railway Assessment
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Overview

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is operated by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport and serves as the core link between the country's seaports and major inland cities. The rail transport in Sri Lanka is mainly aimed at passenger transport while cargo transport has taken a decline over the past decade. Main rail transport activities take place in Colombo suburban areas for commuter transport. This includes a radius of some 30 kilometers from Colombo. GoSL subsidizes passenger train service to afford workers to commute to and from work in support of the economy. There are some 329-commuter trains, of which some 250 trains operate in the south and 50 on long distance routes. Insufficient number and poor performance of the rolling stock, decaying and weak rail track, an outdated centralized traffic control and communications system and poor worker productivity. This in turn has resulted in high unreliability, poor punctuality, deteriorated quality and increasing safety risks. Upgrades to the entire system are long overdue and as a result suburban trains are incredibly limited in their speed.

Travel Time Matrix

Updated timetable is available in this link:  https://eservices.railway.gov.lk/schedule/homeAction.action?lang=en.

Railway Companies and Consortia

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is operated by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport.

Capacity Table

Rail Operator Capacity

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) 

Operates on (lines)

All

Max train length and/or pulling capacity

n/a

Locomotives (electric/diesel/steam)

130 (10 are used for cargo)

Freight Wagons (covered) / size

376 BCD cargo wagons of 45-t capacity each. 120 of these require repair

Freight Wagons (flat bed) / size

n/a

Freight Wagons (high-sided)/size

n/a

Freight Wagons (drop-side)/size

n/a

Key Route Information

Standard Route Information

Colombo to Batticaloa

Colombo to Trincomalee

Track gauge

1067 mm (3'6")

1067 mm (3'6")

Ruling gradient

n/a

n/a

Total track distance (single and/or double)

347 km

293 km

Type of rail (weight and if welded or not)

n/a

n/a

Type of sleeper and fastenings

n/a

n/a

Total track travel time

n/a

n/a

Maintenance (Good, marginal, bad)

n/a

n/a

Companies-consortiums operating on line

n/a

n/a

Traffic frequency (monthly/weekly/daily)

n/a

n/a

Security (Good, marginal, bad)

n/a

n/a

Main stations (Add details below)

Maho Junction

Batticaloa

Maho Junction

Trincomalee

For information on Sri Lanka Railway Network additional information, please see the following document: Sri Lanka Railway Network Additional Information


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