Kelani Valley line

Kelani Valley line
Class S8 DMUs do most of runs on the Kelani Valley line
Overview
Type Regional rail
System Sri Lanka Railways
Status Operational
Locale Sri Lanka
Termini Colombo Fort
Avissawella
Stations 25
Operation
Opened 1902 (as narrow gauge)
Closed 1992 (to start gauge conversion)
Reopened 1996 (as broad gauge)
Operator(s) Sri Lanka Railways
Depot(s) Maradana
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
Kelani Valley Line
Opanayaka
Katawatta
Watapota
Dela
Thiruwanaketiya
Ratnapura
Kuruwaita
Parakaduwa
Ehaliyagoda
Getaheththa
Yatiyanthota
Avissawella
 Puwakpitiya
 Kosgama
 Kadugoda
 Waga
 Morakele
 Gammana
 Pinnawala
 Uggalla
 Angampitiya
 Arukwathupura
 Padukka
 Watareka
 Meegoda
 Godagama
 Panagoda
 Homagama
 Homagama Hospital
 Malapalla
 Kottawa
 Pannipitiya
 Maharagama
 Nawinna
 Udahamulla
 Pengiriwatte
 Nugegoda
 Kirillapone
 Narahenpita
 Cotta Road
 Baseline Road
Main Line
 Maradana
To Colombo

The Kelani Valley railway line in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District and some parts of Kegalla and Ratnapura Districts. 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
New S12 DMUs were introduced in 2012

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
N1492Krupp8 cylinder poweredHydraulicRed1953
N2600Kawasaki JapanGeneral Motors Detroit diesel v16HydraulicBlue & red1973
P1132HunsletRuston Hornsby 6 cylinderMechanicalGreen1950

Currently, the line is operated with broad-gauged S8 and S12 diesel multiple units.

ClassHorse powerManufacturerEngineTransmissionLiveryImported yearNotes
S61165Hitachi (Japan)Paxman V12-12YJXL (4 stroke)Diesel hydraulicGreen1975Not in use.
S71020Hitachi (Japan)Cummings V8 KTA-2300 (4 stroke)Diesel hydraulicGreen1977Not in use
S81430Hitachi (Japan) & Hyundai (S. Korea)MTU 12V396TCI13Diesel hydraulicOrange, white, and gray1991
S121950CSR (China)MTU 12V4000R41 V12Diesel electricBlue2012

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. ↑ http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/slrails.html
  2. ↑ "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 2010-07-19.
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