Train services along the Upcountry Line connecting Colombo Fort, Peradeniya, and Gampola will officially resume on the afternoon of October 2. The reopening follows the extensive restoration of railway tracks heavily damaged by Cyclone “Ditwah,” which triggered severe disruptions across the hill country railway corridor.
The extreme weather event caused damage at 103 separate locations between Rambukkana and Gampola, comprising 36 major landslides alongside 67 earth slips and rock falls. Engineers and field crews faced major operational hurdles during the recovery effort, particularly along the Rambukkana–Kadugannawa stretch, known as the steepest gradient in the island’s entire railway network. A lack of alternative road access, adverse weather conditions, and the requirement to transport all heavy repair machinery and construction materials exclusively by rail complicated the recovery timeline.
Restoration teams from the Way and Works Department of Sri Lanka Railways worked in coordination with the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) to stabilize affected slopes, repair the damaged permanent way, and certify the track safe for passenger operations.
Key Developments
- Resumption Timeline: Outbound services from Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and Gampola will start running on the afternoon of October 2, followed by morning return trips beginning October 3.
- Afternoon Outbound Schedules (from October 2): Intercity Train No. 1029 departs Colombo Fort at 3:35 p.m. to reach Peradeniya at 5:56 p.m. daily; Train No. 1035 departs Colombo Fort at 4:35 p.m. to arrive in Gampola at 7:51 p.m.; Train No. 1037 leaves Colombo Fort at 5:15 p.m. and arrives at Peradeniya at 7:53 p.m.
- Morning Inbound Schedules (from October 3): Train No. 1040 departs Gampola at 4:35 a.m. (arriving Colombo Fort at 8:06 a.m.); Train No. 1038 departs Peradeniya at 4:40 a.m. (arriving Colombo Fort at 7:12 a.m.); Train No. 1030 leaves Peradeniya at 6:25 a.m. (arriving Colombo Fort at 8:44 a.m.).
- Podi Menike Express Reinstatement: Daily operations for the Podi Menike Express restart on October 3. Train No. 1005 will depart Colombo Fort at 5:55 a.m., reaching Peradeniya at 8:34 a.m. and Gampola at 9:06 a.m. Train No. 1006 will leave Gampola at 4:10 p.m., stop at Peradeniya at 4:31 p.m., and arrive at Colombo Fort at 7:23 p.m.
- Infrastructure Restoration: Collaborative geotechnical and railway engineering efforts by the Way and Works Department and NBRO cleared 103 damage points across the challenging Rambukkana-Gampola corridor.
With safety inspections completed and full clearance issued by the relevant railway and research authorities, regular transit options for commuters travelling between the Western Province and the central highlands are set to normalize across the scheduled timetable.