Upcountry train service for festive season

The CGR launched a train service between Colombo Fort and Bandarawela for the school vacation and festive season for local tourists, Commercial Superintendent of CGR, Sisira Kumara said.

The train will leave Colombo Fort at 9.15 am and reach Bandarawela at 5.20 pm. The train will stop at 15 railway stations enabling people to travel up country. The stops are at Kandy, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Hatton, Kotagala, Thalawakele, Watagoda, Nanuoya, Ambewela, Pattipola, Ohiya, Idalgashinna, Haputale and Diyatalawa.

The return journey will begin at 6.40 am from Bandarawela and reach Colombo by 2.25 pm. Four second class compartments and an observation salon will carry the commuters to their destinations.

Sisira Kumara said that CGR is looking at new revenue sources and special train services to cater to the seasonal demand is expected to be successful. A regular train service to Bandarawela is not profitable and the Udaratamenike and Podimenike trains to Badulla cater to the normal demand. However, during school vacations and the festive season, the demand for upcountry travel increases.

This train service will facilitate travellers visiting Sri Pada, World's End, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Haputale and Bandrawela and will provide a comfortable service for passengers. GW