Kelani Valley line

Last updated
Kelani Valley line
S8 class.jpg
Class S8 DMUs do most of runs on the Kelani Valley line
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleSri Lanka
Termini
Stations25
Service
Type Regional rail
System Sri Lanka Railways
Operator(s) Sri Lanka Railways
Depot(s)Maradana
History
Opened1902 (as narrow gauge)
Closed1992 (to start gauge conversion)
Reopened1996 (as broad gauge)
Technical
Number of tracks Single track
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Minimum radius (?)
Electrification No
Route map
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To Opanayaka
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To Yatiyantota
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Avissawella
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Kiriwadala
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Puwakpitiya Town
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Puwakpitiya
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Hingurala
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Miriswatta
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Aluthambalama
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Kosgama
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Arapanagama
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Kadugoda
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Waga
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Wakoya Stream
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Morakele
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Gammana
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Pinnawala
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Uggalla
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Angampitiya
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Pusweli Oya
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Arukwathupura
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Padukka
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Liyanwala
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Watareka
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Meegoda
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Godagama
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Panagoda
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Homagama
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Homagama Hospital
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 E01  Southern Expressway
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Kottawa-Makumbura Multi-Modal Transport Hub
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Malapalle
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Kottawa
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Pannipitiya
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Maharagama
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Nawinna
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Udahamulla
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Pengiriwatte
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Nugegoda
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Kirullapone
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Narahenpita
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Manning Town
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Cotta Road
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Baseline Road
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Main Line
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Maradana
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To Colombo Fort

The Kelani Valley railway line in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District. The line is owned, maintained, and operated by Sri Lanka Railways.

Contents

Route definition and overview

Nugegoda railway station Nugegoda-Railway Station.JPG
Nugegoda railway station

The Kelani Valley line runs southeast from Colombo Maradana Station, through much of the city of Colombo. It runs through major business centres, like Nugegoda and Maharagama, before turning eastwards. It crosses the Southern Expressway near Homagama and continues east towards Avissawella, the current terminus of the line. The line serves an increasingly urbanising community.

Major railway stations on the line are Colombo Fort, Maradana, Narahenpita, Nugegoda, Maharagama, Pannipitiya, Kottawa, Homagama, Meegoda, Padukka, Waga, Kosgama, and Avissawella.

History

Narrow-gauge era

An exhibit of narrow-gauge line SL Narrow Gauge.jpg
An exhibit of narrow-gauge line

The Kelani Valley line was originally built from Colombo 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 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge [1] 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.

Gauge conversion

In 1992, a project was started to convert the line to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in). The project was finally completed up to Avissawella (58 km or 36 mi) in 1996. The tracks beyond were completely dismantled leaving only ruined stations, bridges, and bunds.

Infrastructure

The Kelani Valley line is entirely single track, at 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in). [2] As train frequency increases, it is becoming increasingly challenging to operate trains running both direction on the single-line track.

Currently the line serves an increasingly urbanizing population leading up to Avissawella. The Kelani Valley line is not electrified. All services run on diesel power. Current operating speeds are limited due to the sharp curves on the line.

Locomotives and rolling stock

A Class P1 locomotive in Deyata Kirula exhibition Class P1.jpg
A Class P1 locomotive in Deyata Kirula exhibition
Class N2 narrow-gauge locomotive Class N2.jpg
Class N2 narrow-gauge locomotive

During the narrow-gauge era, the line had its own fleet of narrow-gauge locomotives and rolling stock. The steam locomotives of Class K and Sentinel railcars class V1 and V2 were also used.

ClassHorse powerManufacturerEngineTransmissionLiveryImported year
N1492 Krupp 8 cylinder poweredHydraulicRed1953
N2600 Kawasaki JapanGeneral Motors Detroit diesel v16HydraulicBlue & red1973
P1132Hunslet Ruston Hornsby 6 cylinderMechanicalGreen1950

Currently, the line is operated with broad-gauged S8 diesel multiple units.

ClassHorse powerManufacturerEngineTransmissionLiveryImported yearNotes
S61165Hitachi (Japan)Paxman V12-12YJXL (4 stroke)Diesel hydraulicFormerly Red, then Orange with White stripes (similar to the S8 livery)1975Not in use.
S71020Hitachi (Japan)Cummins V8 KTA-2300 (4 stroke)Diesel hydraulicGreen1977Not in use
S8 1430Hitachi (Japan) & Hyundai (S. Korea)MTU 12V396TCI13Diesel hydraulicOrange, white, and gray1991

Planned extension to Hambantota

Sri Lanka Railways is planning to restore the Kelani Valley Line up to Opanayake through Kuruvita, Ratnapura and Kahawatta and to augment the line with a broad gauge via Embilipitiya and Suriyawewa to the port of Hambantota by 2030. [3]

Operation

Sri Lanka Railways has a monopoly on the operation of Kelani Valley line.

As of January 2016, there were 20 trains operating on the line daily, mainly catering to rush hour commuters traveling to and from Colombo. In addition to this, Sri Lanka Railways introduced a rail bus service to cater commuters traveling between Kosgama and Maharagama during daytime.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Railways of Sri Lanka".
  2. "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.
  3. "Romantic KV railway line to find new lover in Hambantota".