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Planned extension to Hambantota
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| [[Sri Lanka Railways S8|S8]] || 1430 || Hitachi (Japan) & Hyundai (S. Korea) || MTU 12V396TCI13 || Diesel hydraulic || Orange, white, and gray || 1991 ||
| [[Sri Lanka Railways S8|S8]] || 1430 || Hitachi (Japan) & Hyundai (S. Korea) || MTU 12V396TCI13 || Diesel hydraulic || Orange, white, and gray || 1991 ||
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== Planned extension to Hambantota ==
Sri Lanka Railways is plannning to restore the Kelaniya 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.<ref>https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/news-features/Romantic-KV-railway-line-to-find-new-lover-in-Hambantota/131-274201</ref>


==Operation==
==Operation==

Revision as of 07:34, 1 May 2024

Kelani Valley line
Class S8 DMUs do most of runs on the Kelani Valley line
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleSri Lanka
Termini
Stations25
Service
TypeRegional rail
SystemSri 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 tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Minimum radius(?)
ElectrificationNo
Route map
Legend
 To Opanayaka
To Yatiyantota
Avissawella
Kiriwadala
Puwakpitiya Town
Puwakpitiya
Hingurala
Miriswatta
Aluthambalama
Kosgama
Arapanagama
Kadugoda
Waga
Wakoya Stream
Morakele
Gammana
Pinnawala
Uggalla
Angampitiya
Pusweli Oya
Arukwathupura
Padukka
Liyanwala
Watareka
Meegoda
Godagama
Panagoda
Homagama
Homagama Hospital
 E01  Southern Expressway
Kottawa-Makumbura Multi-Modal Transport Hub
Malapalle
Kottawa
Pannipitiya
Maharagama
Nawinna
Udahamulla
Pengiriwatte
Nugegoda
Kirullapone
Narahenpita
Manning Town
Cotta Road
Baseline Road
Main Line
Maradana
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.

Route definition and overview

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

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 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.

Class Horse power Manufacturer Engine Transmission Livery Imported year
N1 492 Krupp 8 cylinder powered Hydraulic Red 1953
N2 600 Kawasaki Japan General Motors Detroit diesel v16 Hydraulic Blue & red 1973
P1 132 Hunslet Ruston Hornsby 6 cylinder Mechanical Green 1950

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

Class Horse power Manufacturer Engine Transmission Livery Imported year Notes
S6 1165 Hitachi (Japan) Paxman V12-12YJXL (4 stroke) Diesel hydraulic Formerly Red, then Orange with White stripes (similar to the S8 livery) 1975 Not in use.
S7 1020 Hitachi (Japan) Cummins V8 KTA-2300 (4 stroke) Diesel hydraulic Green 1977 Not in use
S8 1430 Hitachi (Japan) & Hyundai (S. Korea) MTU 12V396TCI13 Diesel hydraulic Orange, white, and gray 1991

Planned extension to Hambantota

Sri Lanka Railways is plannning to restore the Kelaniya 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

References

  1. ^ "Railways of Sri Lanka".
  2. ^ "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.
  3. ^ https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/news-features/Romantic-KV-railway-line-to-find-new-lover-in-Hambantota/131-274201
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