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17-474: The Kelani Valley line runs southeast from Colombo Maradana Station , through much of the city of Colombo. It runs through major business centres, like Nugegoda and Maharagama, before turning eastwards. It crosses the Southern Expressway near Homagama and continues east towards Avissawella, the current terminus of the line. The line serves an increasingly urbanising community. Major railway stations on

34-421: A 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) narrow-gauge line to serve the rubber plantations in the area, the railway line between Avissawella and Yatiyanthota was removed in 1942, the line from Homagama to Opanayaka abandoned in 1973. The services were restarted up to Avissawella in 1978. In 1992, a project was started to convert the line to 1,676 mm ( 5 ft 6 in ). The project

51-590: A new central station for Colombo. This has been constructed similar to Manchester Victoria station . The station was built on land reclaimed from the Beira Lake . This project was part of a scheme started in 1906 to reorganize the railway within Colombo, where Colombo Terminus Station was closed and replaced by the new Maradana Station . This was ceremonially opened by G.P. Green who was the General Manager at CGR. Fort

68-457: Is a couple kilometres away from Maradana Station. Maradana Station features a two-storey building housing the ticket office, waiting room, and Sri Lanka Railways offices. A footbridge leads to the platforms. The main building is an example of British colonial architecture. The railways operates its centralised traffic control (CTC) for the Colombo area through a facility at Maradana. The CTC handles about 290 trains per day. The station

85-456: Is also a hub for commuter rail within the Colombo metropolis. Colombo Fort Railway Station Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo , Sri Lanka . The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways , with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country. When

102-453: Is served by Sri Lanka Railways , with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. It is the terminus of several intercity trains. Maradana is home to the suburban-Colombo network's centralised traffic control centre. When the railways first opened in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1864, trains terminated at Colombo Terminus Station , a now-retired station near Maradana. In 1906, a project

119-617: Is served from the north-east by the Main line , which leads to several other major routes in Sri Lanka's railway network. To the south-east of the station, the Kelani Valley Line connects Maradana with many other area of Colombo. The station is served to the west by the Coastal line , leading to Galle and Matara . Most of these Coastal-line trains terminate at Maradana Station. Maradana station

136-481: The east by the Main line , which leads to several other major routes in Sri Lanka's railway network. Most of these trains terminate at Fort Station. The station is served to the south-west by the Coastal line , leading to Galle and Matara. Fort station is also a hub for commuter rail within the Colombo metropolis. to Coastal Line to Main Line via Maradana The station has a through-station layout, despite being

153-413: The line are Colombo Fort , Maradana , Narahenpita , Nugegoda , Maharagama , Pannipitiya , Kottawa , Homagama , Meegoda , Padukka , Waga, Kosgama, and Avissawella . The Kelani Valley line was originally built from Colombo to Yatiyanthota via Avissawella during 1900–1902. It was branched off at Avissawella and extended up to Opanayaka via Ratnapura (completed in 1912). Originally built as

170-427: The line daily, mainly catering to rush hour commuters traveling to and from Colombo. In addition to this, Sri Lanka Railways introduced a rail bus service to cater commuters traveling between Kosgama and Maharagama during daytime. Maradana Railway Station Maradana Railway Station ( Sinhala : මරදාන දුම්රිය ස්ථානය , Tamil : மருதானை ரயில் நிலையம் ) is a major rail hub in Colombo , Sri Lanka . The station

187-507: The line is operated with broad-gauged S8 diesel multiple units . Sri Lanka Railways is planning to restore the Kelani Valley Line up to Opanayake through Kuruvita, Ratnapura and Kahawatta and to augment the line with a broad gauge via Embilipitiya and Suriyawewa to the port of Hambantota by 2030. Sri Lanka Railways has a monopoly on the operation of Kelani Valley line. As of January 2016, there were 20 trains operating on

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204-438: The line serves an increasingly urbanizing population leading up to Avissawella. The Kelani Valley line is not electrified. All services run on diesel power. Current operating speeds are limited due to the sharp curves on the line. During the narrow-gauge era, the line had its own fleet of narrow-gauge locomotives and rolling stock. The steam locomotives of Class K and Sentinel railcars class V1 and V2 were also used. Currently,

221-570: The other major rail station in Colombo. In addition to providing connection between the many trains that serve the station, Fort Station also provides connections to bus services through the Central Bus Stand in Pettah. Colombo Secretariat Station, the city terminus for the Airport Express, is located to the west of the station, with no direct pedestrian connection. The station is served from

238-463: The railways first opened in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1864, trains terminated at Colombo Terminus Station , a now-retired station near Maradana. The earliest station to be called Fort was a small station, built in 1877 when the Coast Line was built. This original station sat on the site of present-day Secretariat Halt just west of today's Fort Station. The present Fort Station was opened in 1917, as

255-564: Was added in 1917 to serve the city centre. The station was bombed by the LTTE in 2008. Fort Station is in the heart of the city, located next to Colombo Fort and Pettah and close to the meeting points of the A1 and A4 highways. The station provides access to businesses and offices in Colombo Fort, as well as the markets at Pettah. Fort Station is a couple kilometres away from Maradana Station ,

272-423: Was finally completed up to Avissawella (58 km or 36 mi) in 1996. The tracks beyond were completely dismantled leaving only ruined stations, bridges, and bunds. The Kelani Valley line is entirely single track , at 1,676 mm ( 5 ft 6 in ). As train frequency increases, it is becoming increasingly challenging to operate trains running both direction on the single-line track. Currently

289-610: Was launched to reorganise the railway within the Colombo area. Colombo Terminus Station was closed and replaced by the new Maradana Station. Fort Railway Station was opened in 1917, as a new central station for Colombo. Today, Maradana and Fort are the primary rail gateways to Colombo. Maradana Station is in Maradana , located next to the Elphinstone Theatre and near the Maradana Railway Yards. Colombo Fort Station

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