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
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