Sri Lanka by train: the Kandy–Ella line and how to book

About Sri Lanka by train: the Kandy–Ella line and how to book

By the ULTIMATE Sri Lanka Editorial Team

Sri Lanka Railways runs the Main Line from Colombo Fort to Kandy and up through the tea country to Ella and Badulla, the Coast Line south to Galle and Matara, and lines north and east to Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Service status (October 2026)

Service status, October 2026: after damage from Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025, the hill-country line is open from Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and from Nanu Oya to Ella and Badulla (reopened in June 2026), but trains do not yet run into Kandy or between Kandy and Nanu Oya. For now, travel from Kandy to Nanu Oya by road (about 2.5–3 hours) and join the train there. Repairs are expected to be completed around the end of 2026 or early 2027; check Sri Lanka Railways before you travel.

The lines

The Main Line climbs from Colombo Fort past Peradeniya (for Kandy) and through Hatton, Nanu Oya (for Nuwara Eliya), Haputale and Ella to Badulla. The Coast Line runs along the sea to Galle and Matara and on to Beliatta. Other lines go north to Jaffna and east to Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Slow, crowded and unforgettable: the train through the tea country is the journey most visitors remember longest.

The scenic stretch

The most famous part of the journey, from Nanu Oya over the Pattipola summit and through Haputale to Ella, winds through tea estates, cloud forest and tunnels and crosses the Nine Arch Bridge just beyond Ella. Nanu Oya to Ella takes about three hours. When the line is fully reopened, Kandy to Ella takes most of a day, around six to seven hours.

The classes

First class means an air-conditioned carriage or, on some trains, an observation saloon at the rear. Second and third class have opening windows and are sold as reserved seats or unreserved tickets. Many travellers choose reserved second class for the windows and the atmosphere.

How to book

Reserved seats can be booked on the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation website from 30 days before the date of travel, and online up to 2 hours before departure, or at major stations. Seats on the hill-country trains sell out quickly in high season, so book as soon as bookings open for your date. Third-party agents often resell tickets at a mark-up.

Unreserved tickets

Unreserved second- and third-class tickets are sold at the station on the day. They are cheap, but the carriages can be packed in high season, and you may stand for much of the journey.

Riding safely

Trains are often late, so do not plan tight connections. Keep your bags close and bring water and snacks. Do not lean or hang out of doors or windows for photos, and never sit in open doorways: people have been badly hurt. Take your pictures from inside the carriage or at the stations.

Our advice: check the service status first, then book a reserved seat on the Nanu Oya–Ella stretch as soon as bookings open, and ride it in the morning, when the views are clearest.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Sri Lanka by train: the Kandy–Ella line and how to book before you go.