Kelani Valley Railway Line
Encyclopedia
The Kelani Valley Railway Line, in Sri Lanka
, covering the breadth of Colombo District and some parts of Kegalla and Ratnapura
Districts is owned, maintained and operated by the Sri Lanka Railways
.
to Yatiyanthota
via Avissawella
during 1900 - 1902. It was branched off at Avissawella and extended up to Opanayaka via Ratnapura
(completed in 1912). Originally built as a narrow gauge line to serve the rubber plantations in the area, the railway line between Avissawella and Yatiyanthota was removed in 1942, the line from Homagama
to Opanayaka abandoned in 1973. The services were restarted up to Avissawella in 1978. In 1992 a project was started to broad gauge the line and was finally completed up to Avissawella (58 km) in 1996. The tracks beyond were completely abandoned and currently the tracks from Avissawella to Yatiyanthota and Opanayaka can be traced by the leftover and ruined stations, bridges and bunds.
Currently the line serves an increasingly urbanizing population leading up to Avissawella. Even though the line was broad gauged to improve the services in capacity and speed, the objectives have not been achieved due to sharp curves (a leftover of the narrow gauge system) and the illegal constructions on either sides of the track from Colombo up to Maharagama
.
Major railway stations on the line are Colombo Fort, Maradana
, Narahenpita
, Nugegoda
, Maharagama
, Pannipitiya
Kottawa
, Homagama
, Panagoda
, Padukka
, Waga
, Kosgama
, and Avissawella
.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, covering the breadth of Colombo District and some parts of Kegalla and Ratnapura
Ratnapura District
Ratnapura is a district of Sri Lanka in the province of Sabaragamuwa.The gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka is also a major crossroad between southern plains and the hill country to the east. A bustling market city servicing most of the surrounding towns. Many of the prominent gem dealers in Sri Lanka...
Districts is owned, maintained and operated by the Sri Lanka Railways
Sri Lanka Railways
Sri Lanka Railway Department, branded "Sri Lanka Railways", is a key department of the Sri Lankan Government under the Ministry of Transport with a history that begins in 1858...
.
History
The Kelani Valley Line was originally built from ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
to Yatiyanthota
Yatiyanthota
Yatiyanthota is a town in Kegalle District, in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka....
via Avissawella
Avissawella
Avissawella, also known as Seethawakapura or Seethawaka, is a town along the A4 route from Colombo on the Western Coast to Kalmunai in the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Balangoda and Wellawaya.- Overview :...
during 1900 - 1902. It was branched off at Avissawella and extended up to Opanayaka via Ratnapura
Ratnapura
- Floods :The town of Ratnapura is situated in the flooding plain of the river Kalu. The town experiences regular floods usually in the month of May. There is no large dam across the Kalu, so this leaves the city at the mercy of nature's forces every year. Several proposals have been made to reduce...
(completed in 1912). Originally built as a narrow gauge line to serve the rubber plantations in the area, the railway line between Avissawella and Yatiyanthota was removed in 1942, the line from Homagama
Homagama
Homagama is a town situated 24km from the city of Colombo in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The Homagama pradeshiya sabha consists of the Homagama divisional secretariat division and 10 GN division of Padukka DS division. The total Land area is about is 137 km² of 90 GN division. The...
to Opanayaka abandoned in 1973. The services were restarted up to Avissawella in 1978. In 1992 a project was started to broad gauge the line and was finally completed up to Avissawella (58 km) in 1996. The tracks beyond were completely abandoned and currently the tracks from Avissawella to Yatiyanthota and Opanayaka can be traced by the leftover and ruined stations, bridges and bunds.
Operation
As of January 1, 2009, there were 16 trains operating on the line daily, mainly catering for the rush hour commuters traveling to and from Colombo.Currently the line serves an increasingly urbanizing population leading up to Avissawella. Even though the line was broad gauged to improve the services in capacity and speed, the objectives have not been achieved due to sharp curves (a leftover of the narrow gauge system) and the illegal constructions on either sides of the track from Colombo up to Maharagama
Maharagama
Maharagama is a Town, Municipal Area in the Colombo District and a suburb of Colombo Sri Lanka. Situated on the High-Level Road about 15 km away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo, Maharagama is the city with the third largest population , in Sri Lanka. It developed rapidly in...
.
Major railway stations on the line are Colombo Fort, Maradana
Maradana
Maradana is a suburb of Colombo city, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds...
, Narahenpita
Narahenpita
Narahenpita is a municipal ward of Colombo city, Sri Lanka. Located at the South-Eastern corner and served by the Kelani Valley Railway Line, many government institutions including the National Blood Bank, the Survey Department, the Labor Ministry and several departments of the Health Ministry are...
, Nugegoda
Nugegoda
Nugegoda is one of the most densely populated suburbs of Colombo. It is in the border of Sri Jayawardenapura Municipal Council Limits and Dehiwela Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council Limits, just outside Colombo City Limits. Central Nugegoda is a collection of densely packed shops and mixed residential...
, Maharagama
Maharagama
Maharagama is a Town, Municipal Area in the Colombo District and a suburb of Colombo Sri Lanka. Situated on the High-Level Road about 15 km away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo, Maharagama is the city with the third largest population , in Sri Lanka. It developed rapidly in...
, Pannipitiya
Pannipitiya
Pannipitiya is an area in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Pannipitiya is subdivided into a number of smaller areas.-Areas in Pannipitiya:...
Kottawa
Kottawa
Kottawa is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, administered by the Maharagama Urban Council. Located 18km from Colombo, it can be reached via A4 highway and by train on via the Kelani Valley Railway Line. The northern end of the Southern Expressway is about 2km east of Kottawa on the High Level Road...
, Homagama
Homagama
Homagama is a town situated 24km from the city of Colombo in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The Homagama pradeshiya sabha consists of the Homagama divisional secretariat division and 10 GN division of Padukka DS division. The total Land area is about is 137 km² of 90 GN division. The...
, Panagoda
Panagoda
Panagoda is a town in Western Province, Sri Lanka of Sri Lanka. Its 20 km away from Colombo. Situated there is the Panagoda Cantonment, the largest military base in the country....
, Padukka
Padukka
Padukka is a town in the district of Colombo in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It has a population of roughly 8,000. Elevation 44feet....
, Waga
Waga
Waga is an isolated small town in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Administrated by Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha , it is part of the Padukka Divisional Secretary's Division. The town can be reached on road from Colombo via A4 road, turning off at either Meepe near Padukka or at Kaluaggala near Hanwella...
, Kosgama
Kosgama
Kosgama is a small town in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Located 46km from Colombo, on the A4 highway, it is also served by the Kelani Valley Railway Line. The town is administered by the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha ....
, and Avissawella
Avissawella
Avissawella, also known as Seethawakapura or Seethawaka, is a town along the A4 route from Colombo on the Western Coast to Kalmunai in the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Balangoda and Wellawaya.- Overview :...
.