Batticaloa line

Railway line in Sri Lanka

Batticaloa line

Rail bus in Punani railway station

Overview
Owner| Sri Lanka Railways
Termini|

* Maho Junction
* Batticaloa

Stations| 31
Service
Type| Inter-city rail and regional rail
System| Sri Lanka Railways
Services|  *Udaya Devi Express Train
*Pulathisi Intercity Express train
*Meenagaya night Intercity express train
*Maho-Batticaloa mix train
Operator(s)| Sri Lanka Railways
History
Opened| 1928
Technical
Line length| 212 km (132 mi)
Number of tracks| 1
Track gauge| 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification| No

Route map

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Batticaloa Line

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Batticaloa

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  | Eravur
|  |

|  | Vandaramoolai
|  |

|  | Dewapuram
|  |

|  | Sittankudi
|  |

|  | Kalkudah
|  |

|  | Valaichchenai
|  |

|  | Valaichchenai Lagoon
|  |

|  | Kadadasi Nagar
|  |

|  | Punanai
|  |

|  | Rideethenna
|  |

|  | Aselapura
|  |

|  | Welikanda
|  |

|  | Sevanapitiya
|  |

|  | Kolakanaweli
|  |

|  | Manampitiya
|  |

|  | Flood Plains National Park
|  |

|  | Mahaweli River
|  |

|  | Flood Plains National Park
|  |

|  | Gallella
|  |

|  | Polonnaruwa
|  |

|  | Perakum Uyana
|  |

|  | Laksha Uyana
|  |

|  | Jayanthipura
|  |

|  | Hathamuna Oya
|  |

|  | Hath Amuna
|  |

|  | Hingurakgoda
|  |

|  | Minneriya
|  |

|  | Aggala Waan Oya
|  |

|  | Minneriya Reserved Forest Areas
|  |

|  | Trincomalee line to Trincomalee
|  |

|  | Gal Oya Junction
|  |

|  | Gal Oya Junction
|  |

|  | Hatares Kotuwa
|  |

|  | Habarana
|  |

|  | Yan Oya
|  |

|  | Palugaswewa
|  |

|  | Horiwila
|  |

|  | Kekirawa
|  |

|  | Ihalagama
|  |

|  | Kalawewa
|  |

|  | Kala Oya
|  |

|  | Avukana
|  |

|  | Negama
|  |

|  | Moragollagama
|  |

|  | Ranamukgama
|  |

|  | Konwewa
|  |

|  | Yapahuwa
|  |

|  | Northern line to Kankesanthurai
|  |

|  | Maho Junction
|  |

|  | Northern line to Colombo Fort
|  |  |  |  |  |

The Batticaloa line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Northern line at Maho Junction, the line heads east through North Central Province and south-easterly through Eastern Province before terminating at the eastern city of Batticaloa. The line is 212 kilometres (132 mi) long and has 31 stations.[1] The line opened in 1928.[2] There were no services on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa stretch of the line between 31 October 1996 and 12 April 2003 due to the civil war.[3] The Udaya Devi service operates on the line.

## Route definition

[edit]

The Batticaloa line runs through the North Central and Eastern Provinces, connecting Mahawa (Maho Junction) on the Northern Line with the eastern city of Batticaloa.

The line runs east of Maho Junction towards Habarana. At Habarana, the construction of a new line to connect to Kurunegala has been proposed in June 2013 to cut short journey times between Colombo and Batticaloa-line destinations.[4] East of Habarana, the Trincomalee Line diverges off the Batticaloa line at Gal Oya towards the port city of Trincomalee. The Batticaloa line continues south-east towards Polonnaruwa before continuing to Batticaloa terminus.

## History

[edit]

The Batticaloa line opened in 1928, as a light railway. Only locomotives with light axel loads were used on the line.[5]

In the 1950s, the route was upgraded to support 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge operation, under the administration of then CGR General Manager B. D. Rampala. Sharp curves and steep gradients were eased, as well as the change to heavier rails, to match the rest of the system.[5]

Udaya Dewi Train at Kurunegala, before the Batticaloa line branches off the Northern line

Between 31 October 1996 and 12 April 2003, there were no services on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa stretch of the line, due to the civil war.[3]

## Operation

[edit]

Sri Lanka Railways operates the Udaya Devi service on the Batticaloa line. The service connects Colombo Fort with Batticaloa.

Railbus service is provided for local services without significant demand. Railbus services allow SLR to meet local needs without stressing its limited rolling stock.

## Infrastructure

[edit]

The Batticaloa line is entirely single track, at 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge.[6]

The line is not electrified. Regular services run on diesel power, including the railbus services. The line currently operates on a lock-and-block signaling system.[6]

## See also

[edit]

* Sri Lanka Railways

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Statistics - Sri Lanka Railways". Ministry of Transport, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28.
2. ^ "The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka". Infolanka.com.
3. ^ a b "Trains to Batticaloa back on track". TamilNet. 12 April 2003.
4. ^ "Construction expedited on the new railway line from Kurunegala to Habarana in Sri Lanka". ColomboPage. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
5. ^ a b http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/rroutes.html The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka
6. ^ a b "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.

* v
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Rail transport in Sri Lanka

Operators/service providers|

* Sri Lanka Railways
* ExpoRail
* Rajadhani Express
* Viceroy Special

By Province|

* Central Province
* Eastern Province
* North Central Province
* Northern Province
* North Western Province
* Sabaragamuwa
* Southern Province
* Uva
* Western Province

Lines|

* Batticaloa line
* Coastal line
* Kelani Valley line
* Main Line
* Mannar line
* Matale line
* Mihintale line
* Northern line
* Puttalam line
* Trincomalee line
* Uda Pussellawa railway (closed)

Stations|

* List of railway stations
* Railway stations by province
* List of railway stations by line

Trains|

* Locomotives
* Named passenger trains
* Boat mail

History|

* Trams in Colombo
* Railway accidents
* Bandarawela Hotel
* National Railway Museum
* 2019 Sri Lanka Railway strike

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