Luxury train service to Pallai

A luxury train service with fully air-conditioned compartments from Colombo to Pallai will be launched on March 7, CGR officials said.

This train service starts with the completion of reconstruction of the Northern railway track from Kilinochchi to Pallai.

The Kilinochchi to Pallai train service will be opened by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama on Tuesday. The new air-conditioned train will depart Colombo Fort railway station at 2.25 pm and reach Pallai at 8.28 pm.

The train will depart from Pallai at 6.30 am and arrive in Colombo Fort at 12.50 pm. In addition from March 4 the Yal Devi, the Matara train and night mail trains will also extend to Pallai, Operational Superintendent of the CGR, L.A.R. Rathnayake said.Rathnayake said that reconstruction of the Northern rail track to Kankesanthurai will be completed before June and train services up to Jaffna will commence before the Sinhala and Hindu New Year.

The train fare for the new air conditioned train to Pallai will be Rs.1,400 and it would be Rs.1,500 to Jaffna.

This express train will stop only at Anuradhapura, Vauniya and Pallai railway stations and it will provide the most convenient transport and fastest transport service between the North and Colombo.

In September 2013, train services were started from Omanthai to Kilinochchi and the 43-km section of the Talaimannar line from Medawachchiya to Madhu was also completed in May 2013.

- GW