Train Excursions in Sri Lanka

Train travels,  who can resist them? It is the most magical way to travel,  provided you have a lot of time to do it. I won't lie,  I'm pretty crazy about them.

I recently took a little trip from Colombo, to Ella - down to Bandarawela (bus) and then to Nuwaraeliya.
Having heard about Expo Rail. I was curious about it. As most last minute planning ends up being, well,last minute, observation tickets were out.

Expo Rail in a nutshell is a privately owned rail carriage (attached to the normal train - NOT a train by itself) and can easily be booked online. I spent Sri Lankan Rupees 4500/- for two people from Colombo Fort to Ella (One way). It also included breakfast (pastries), Lunch (Sri Lankan rice and the choice of vegetarian - soya rice with carrot and yellow rice, or chicken and the same yellow rice and carrot). Tea/ coffee was provided, along with water bottles and tea time also included a little snack with a sri lankan version of a tiny muffin and egg pastry sort of thing, they were both quite nice). Bathrooms are quite nice and clean. The stewards speak English (for the out of town tourist) and are quite friendly. 

I've shared a couple of pictures below for the potential traveler, considering a trip - while the ticket is far more expensive than the regular carriage ticket (Observation is SLR 500/-), it is not a bad idea to check out. It is not the authentic train experience, there are no wadey and fruit sellers walking in. It is overall very comfortable, quiet and kinda like being on a plane with breath taking views.

A google search to private trains in Sri Lanka also showed Rajadamri (I hope I got this right, will verify later) also has a private rail carriage, which you can also purchase online. It seems cheaper. A girl I met while waiting for the train told me she paid SLR 800/- from Colombo to Kandy. Second class tickets are also cheap, can be busy - but recently renovated/ upgraded I think, so not really that bad either.


The train to Badulla on a Tuesday morning was about 30 mins late. 
This is what the Expo Rail carriage looks like from the outside.
The breakfast was provided by Paan Paan, and was nice
This was the lunch - soya on the left and chicken on the right. Honestly they both tasted the same
The view somewhere along the way
Tea time - they provided hot coffee/ tea and water bottles as well. It was nice with the air condition cold
Rail tracks - Ella, Ella Rock in the background! 
Second class tickets from Bandarawela to Nanu Oya - so very comfortable and 90/- each
I am also excited to learn Expo Rail (or the normal train really) travels to Trinco and Kilinochchi (in 5 hours!) as well and wish I could make a trip sometime. 

Comments

  1. Jack PointWed Oct 30, 09:21:00 AM 2013

    I'm envious. Such nice pictures, mine never turn out properly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SachiWed Oct 30, 11:54:00 PM 2013

    Thanks :) I need to get a real camera, these are all mobile.

    Sorry this is an unfinished blog post, I meant to write an overall review of the Expo Rail experience and didn't quite get around to it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jack PointThu Oct 31, 09:05:00 AM 2013

    Well, even better then:)

    Expo Rail is not a bad experience but best done in short stints 2-3 hour journeys at most.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SachiSun Nov 10, 08:03:00 AM 2013

      True, although Fort - Elle wasn't too bad. I'm still trying to decide whether Expo Rail is worth the extra money paid vs the normal train rates..

      Delete
  4. SachiThu Nov 07, 12:39:00 AM 2013

    Lovely pictures ! Looks like you had a nice time. Wonder if we will have time to squeeze in a train ride before December?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SachiSun Nov 10, 08:01:00 AM 2013

      There is always time! Didn't someone say we just have to make it?! :D

      Delete
  5. pepere the catThu Nov 07, 05:50:00 AM 2013

    I spent two months in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago and loved travelling by train. It's such a beautiful country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SachiSun Nov 10, 08:01:00 AM 2013

      Come back! There is always so much more to see :)

      Delete

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