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Podi Manike

Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Running
Locale	Sri Lanka
Current operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)	Ceylon Government Railway
Route
Termini	Colombo Fort Badulla
Distance travelled	290 km (180 mi.)
Average journey time	05.55 AM From Colombo Fort, reaches Badulla at 16:06
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	1005 (Colombo Fort-Badulla) 1006 (Badulla-Colombo Fort)
On-board services
Class(es)	Air Conditioned First Class Second Class Second Class Reserved Economy Class
Observation facilities	Not available
Technical
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Operating speed	120 kmph
Track owner(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Timetable number(s)	1005 and 1006
Route map Badulla Tunnel No. 43 Hali Ela Uduwara Demodara Loop Demodara & Tunnel No. 42 Tunnel No. 41 Nine Arch Bridge Tunnel No. 40 Ella Kithal Ella Heel Oya Kinigama Tunnel No. 39 Bandarawela Tunnel No. 38 Diyatalawa Tunnel No. 37 Haputale Glenonare Tangamale Sanctuary Tunnel No. 36 Idalgashinna Tunnel No. 22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34 & 35 Ohiya Tunnel No. 18 (Pattipola Tunnel),19,20 & 21 Summit 1898.1m above MSL Pattipola Ambewela Horton Plains National Park Parakramapura Closed Uda Pussellawa Railway Line Nanu Oya Tunnel No. 17 Radella Great Western Watagoda Upper Kotmale Reservoir Tunnel No. 16 Thalawakele Tunnel No. 15 St.Clair Kotagala Galkandawatta Tunnel No. 14 (Singha Malai Tunnel) Hatton Rozella Ihala Watawala Watawala Wewalthalawa Dekinda Galboda Tunnel No. 12 & 13 Penrose Inguruoya Hightenford Selam Mahaweli Ganga Nawalapitiya Warakawa Pallegama Ulapane Warakapitiya Thembiligala Wallahagoda Gampola Kahatapitiya Gangathilaka Botalepitiya Weligalla Polgaha Anga Gelioya Koshinna A sub river of Mahaweli Ganga Matale Line Peradeniya Junction KiribathKumbura Barammane Pilimatalawa Urapola Kotabagolla Kadugannawa Tunnel No. 10 (Moragalla Tunnel) & 11 Weralugolla Tunnel No. 9 Balana Tunnel No. 6, 7 & 8 Makehelwala Bambaragala Ihala Kotte Tunnel No. 5A (Meeyangalla Tunnel) Gangoda Tunnel No. 5 Yatiwaldeinya Kadigamuwa Tunnel No. 2, 3 & 4 Rambukkana Rambukkan Oya Yatagama Korossa Tismalpola Panaliya Northern Line Polgahawela Junction Walakumbura Alawwa Bujjomuwa Yattalgoda Maha Oya Ambepussa Botale Tunnel No. 1 Wilwatta Mirigama Wijaya Rajadahana  E04  Central Expressway Ganegoda Pallewela Keenawala Wadurawa Veyangoda Heendeniya Pattiyagoda Magalegoda  E04  Central Expressway Bemmulla Daraluwa Gampaha Attanagalu Oya Yagoda  E04  Central Expressway Ganemulla Bulugahagoda Batuwaththa Walpola Puttalam Line Ragama Junction Horape  E02  Outer Circular Expressway Ederamulla Hunupitiya Wanawasala Kelaniya Kelani River Dematagoda Kelani Valley Line Maradana Colombo Fort Coast Line

"Podi Manike" (Sinhala:පොඩි මැණිකේ, meaning "Little Maiden") is a Sri Lankan passenger train running from Colombo Fort to Badulla. This journey covers about 300 km and is renowned for being the most beautiful train journey in Sri Lanka, especially the stretch from Nanuoya to Ella . It takes about 10 hours to complete the journey.

The train follows the hill-country line, a route developed by the British in the 19th century through scenic mountains. The route features bridges, long tunnels, high slopes and gradients.

Services

The train offers three classes. The first class ac coaches are very luxury and popular among tourists The train also includes a buffet car.

• 1st class air conditioned reserved seats
• 2nd class
• 3rd class typically gets very crowded and carries only basic facilities.

Route

The Podi Menike travels the length of Sri Lanka Railways' Main Line through the hill country.

The Podi Menike begins its eastbound service at Colombo Fort Station and runs east and north past Ragama, Gampaha, Veyangoda, and Polgahawela. At Rambukkana, the Main Line begins its steep climb into the hills of the upcountry. Between Balana and Kadugannawa, the track clings to the side of sheer cliffs, offering passengers views of Batalegala ('Bible' Rock). The train then continues its climb through tea country, connecting market centers at Gampola, Nawalapitiya, and Hatton before reaching Nanu-Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still visited for its temperate climate, classic hotels, and British-style gardens. The Podi Menike continues its ascent to the summit at Pattipola, 6,226 feet above sea level, before descending past Bandarawela to Badulla Terminus. In the upcountry, passengers have views of the tea gardens, mountains and valleys, cascading torrents and waterfalls.

Rolling stock

History

A Class M6 Diesel electric locomotive was used in this train. An Observation saloon was attached at the end. Romanian-built ASTRA passenger coaches are used. This service is now carried out by Class Sri Lanka Railways S14 Powersets

Present

The service was upgraded in 2013, as new long-haul diesel multiple units from China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation. Now hauled by new S14 luxury powersets with two AC coaches.

See also

• Sri Lanka Railways
• List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka

References

1. "Sri Lanka Railways Timetable". Slrfc.org. Archived from the original on 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. "A beginner's guide to Train travel in Sri Lanka . . ". Seat61.com. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
3. "The Railways of Sri Lanka (Ceylon)". Infolanka.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.

• Named passenger trains of Sri Lanka