Speed train from Katunayake to Colombo

Sri Lanka's railway transportation and tourism industry received a turbo boost with the signing of a landmark agreement between K.P.M.G. Mumbai India and Airport Express Air and Rail Company (Pvt) Ltd. to commence feasibility studies for a speed train system from Katunayake to Colombo.

The Metropolitan Railway System comprising two terminals, one at the Katunayake Airport and the other at close proximity to the Fort Railway station is estimated to cost $ 600 million.

Commuters could travel to and from the airport on an uninterrupted railway passage within a short span.

The proposed railway system will comprise two parallel lines to the two destinations.

Airport Express Air and Rail Company Chairman Dr. Michael Parimalan said that feasibility studies on the proposed project will be completed by end of April.

The project will be funded by investors from Malaysia, Denmark and USA.

The railway lines will run parallel to the airport road, cross the Negombo main highway and the Negombo lagoon and connect to the Katunayake expressway on a 30-metre reservation area upto Wattala where it will cross the Negombo road and then travel along the railway lines from Hunupitiya to the Fort Lotus terminal.

The Lotus terminal will comprise a modern and versatile 32-storey tower which will be a centre for tourists and businessmen.

The terminal will comprise of a hyper-mall, multiplex cinema, casino, a city hotel, food courts, a conference and convention centre, spas and an ayurvedic garden.

A shuttle bus service connecting main hotels, shopping complexes and places of interest will be operated to provide tourists an opportunity to travel in the city.

The railway terminal could be accessed from the arrival and departure terminals of the airport.

The proposed railway venture which will operate nine trips a day will woo visitors to the country and reduce travel time by around one hour.

- LF