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Coastal line
A train running on the coastal line
Overview
Status	Functioning
Owner	Sri Lanka Railways
Locale	Sri Lanka
Termini	Colombo Fort Beliatta
Website	www.railway.gov.lk
Service
Type	Intercity rail
System	Sri Lanka Railways
Services	Ruhunu Kumari Express Train Galu Kumari Express Train Samudra Devi Sagarika Rajarata Rejini Express Train
Operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
History
Opened	17 December 1895; 129 years ago (1895-12-17)
Technical
Line length	157.88 km (98.10 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track: Colombo Fort to Paiyagala South Single track: Paiyagala South to Beliatta
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	No
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map v t e Coastal Line Legend Katharagama Hambantota Beliatta Dedduwawala Wavurukannala Akurubebila Tunnel Babarenda Kekanadura Nakuttiyagama Tunnel Weherahena Nilwala Ganga Piladuwa Matara Walgama Kamburugamuwa Mirissa Polwathumodara Polwatta Ganga Weligama Kubalgama Midigama Ahangama Kathaluwa Koggala Lagoon Koggala Habaraduwa Talpe Unawatuna Katugoda Galle Richmond Hill Piyadigama Ginthota Gin Ganga Boossa Rajgama Dodanduwa Rathgama Lagoon Kumarakanda Thiranagama Hikkaduwa Sinigama Telwatta Kahawa Akurala Madampagama Madampe Lagoon Ambalangoda Kandegoda Andadola Madu Ganga Balapitiya Pathagangoda Ahungalla Piyagama Kosgoda Maha Induruwa Induruwa Bentota Benthota Ganga Aluthgama Hettimulla Beruwala Maggona Paiyagala South Paiyagala North Katukurunda Kalutara South Kalu Ganga Kalutara North Train Halt No 01 Wadduwa Pinwatta Panadura Bolgoda Lake Egoda Uyana Koralawalla Moratuwa Lunawa Angulana Ratmalana & Running Shed Mount Lavinia Dehiwala Wellawatta Bambalapitiya Kollupitiya Beira Lake Kompanna Vidiya Beira Lake Secretariat Halt Colombo Fort Maradana Kelani Valley railway line Main Line

The coastal line (sometimes referred to as the coast line or the southern 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 100 km/h (62 mph) between Kalutara and Matara, and a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) 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 100 km/h (62 mph), 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 US$278 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 120 km/h (75 mph). The Matara–Beliatta extension with four new railway stations and four halting places 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 US$600 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 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) 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

Upwards

References

1. "Beliatta – Matara railway service launched". Daily News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
2. ^ Range, Irangika (5 August 2013). "Wheels move on work on Matale-Beliatta track". Daily News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
3. ^ Dissanayake, Ridma (11 April 2012). "Southern railway line re-opens today". Ceylon Daily News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
4. Perera, B. B. "Rampala regime in the local Railway History". The Island. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
5. "Survivors tell of tsunami train horror". BBC News. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
6. ^ "Sri Lanka opens first phase of China-financed Southern Railway line". Railway Gazette. 9 April 2019.
7. Patranobis, Sutirtho (9 April 2019). "Under Belt and Road Initiative, China builds rail line in Sri Lanka, a first since 1948". Hindustan Times.
8. "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.
9. "Future Plans". Sri Lanka Railways. Archived from the original on 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
10. "Daily mirror | Tamil Mirror | Mirror Sports | e-paper | Hi TV | Life Online | Mirror Citizen | Wisden Project to convert single-track to double -track launched". Retrieved 9 February 2017.

v t e Rail transport in Sri Lanka
Operators/service providers	Sri Lanka Railways ExpoRail Rajadhani Express Viceroy Special
By Province	Central Province Eastern Province North Central Province Northern Province North Western Province Sabaragamuwa Southern Province Uva Western Province
Lines	Batticaloa line Coastal line Kelani Valley line Main Line Mannar line Matale line Mihintale line Northern line Puttalam line Trincomalee line Uda Pussellawa railway (closed)
Stations	List of railway stations Railway stations by province List of railway stations by line
Trains	Locomotives Named passenger trains Boat mail
History	Trams in Colombo Railway accidents Bandarawela Hotel National Railway Museum 2019 Sri Lanka Railway strike

• 5 ft 6 in gauge railways in Sri Lanka
• 1877 establishments in Ceylon
• Railway lines in Sri Lanka
• Transport in Southern Province, Sri Lanka