List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka explained

This article contains a list of named passenger trains in Sri Lanka, by operator.

Sri Lanka Railways

Regular services

In the mid-1950s, Sri Lanka Railways, under the leadership of B. D. Rampala, started to name major passenger services.^[1]

• Udarata Menike (Upcountry Maiden/Hill country Maiden) - No. 1015 & 1016^[2]
  • Colombo to Badulla (Runs via Kandy)^[3]
• Podi Menike (Little Maiden) - No. 1005 & 1006^[2]
  • Colombo to Badulla (Runs via Kandy)^[3]
• Tikiri Menike (Little Maiden) - No. 1023 & 1024
  • Colombo to Nanu Oya
• Senkadagala Menike (Maiden of “Senkadagala” – area name) - No. 1035 & 1036
  • Colombo to Kandy
• Yal Devi (Princess/Queen of Jaffna) - No. 4077& 4078^[2]
  • Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai (Runs via Jaffna) ^{[4] [5]}
• Uttara Devi (Princess/Queen of the North) - No. 4017 & 4018 ^[2]
  • Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai (Intercity).
• Udaya Devi or (Princess/Queen of the Rise -East) - No. 6011 & 6012^[2]
  • Colombo to Batticaloa
• Rajarata Rejini (Regant of the land of kings) - No. 8085, 8086, 4085, & 4086^[2]
  • Anuradhapura to Beliatta (Runs via Colombo)
• Ruhunu Kumari (Princess of “Ruhuna” – southern province) - No. 8058 & 8059^[2]
  • Maradana to Matara (Runs via Colombo-fort)
• Muthu Kumari (Pearl Princess) - No. 3427 ^[2]
  • Panadura to Chilaw (Runs via Colombo-fort)
• Samudra Devi (Queen of the Oceans) - No. 8760 & 8327^[2]
  • Maradana to Galle^[6]
• Galu Kumari (Princess of Galle) - No. 8056 & 8057^[2]
  • Maradana to Beliatta (Runs via Colombo-fort)
• Sagarika (Ocean Girl) - No. 8096 & 8097^[2]
  • Maradana to Beliatta^[7]
• Meena Gaya (Singing Fish) - No. 6079^{[2] [8]}
  • Runs between Colombo and Batticaloa
• Badulla night express
  • Colombo fort to Badulla
• Pulathisi - No. 6075^[2]
  • Colombo fort to Batticloa

Discontinued services

• Boat Mail (discontinued since 23 December 1964)^[9]
  • Service was operated between Colombo and Chennai, India, with ferry service to cross Rama Sethu.
• Hijra
  • Colombo Fort to Batticaloa via Trincomalee

Special services

• Bradby Express - Colombo to Kandy (connecting the Colombo and Kandy legs of the annual Bradby Shield Encounter of rugby union)^[10]

Airport and aviation services

• Airport Express - Colombo Secretariat to Bandaranaike International Airport using a Hitachi Class S5 DMU4.

J.F. Tours & Travels

• Viceroy Special - Colombo to Kandy, Badulla, or Galle; by charter (Tourist excursion train powered by steam)^[11]

See also

• Sri Lanka Railways

Notes and References

1. News: The Island . Rampala regime in the local Railway History . 2010-07-19 .
2. http://www.slrfc.org/sri-lanka-railways-timetable "Sri Lanka Railways Timetable"
3. http://www.seat61.com/SriLanka.htm "A beginner's guide to Train travel in Sri Lanka . . ."
4. Web site: Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka\'s iconic Yal Devi train arrives in Jaffna after 24 years . www.colombopage.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141015035633/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14B/Oct13_1413188982CH.php . 2014-10-15.
5. News: Dailynews . President requests patriotic citizens: Join us in building Northern rail track . 2009-03-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021043821/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/24/news02.asp . 2012-10-21 .
6. News: The Island . Samudra Devi in a Tangle of Love! . 2009-07-12 . 2011-01-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110913152658/http://www.slrfc.org/2009/07/12/samudra-devi-in-a-tangle-of-love . 2011-09-13 . dead .
7. News: Dailynews . Fifty Sagarika train passengers fined . 2010-10-14 . 2011-01-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101017073514/http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/10/14/news050.asp . 2010-10-17 . dead .
8. Web site: TravelSrilanka.org . 2023-08-30 . Meenagaya Train . 2024-01-01 . Travel Sri Lanka . en-US.
9. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html Famous Trains
10. Web site: The Bradby express . Sundaytimes.lk . 2010-09-07.
11. Web site: Viceroy Vintage Train Tours . 2011-07-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110828191627/http://www.jftours.com/viceroy-vintage-train-tours/ . 2011-08-28 . dead .