Colombo Light Rail

The Colombo Light Rail Transit System (Sinhala: කොළඹ සැහැල්ලු දුම්රිය සංක්‍රමණ පද්ධතිය. Tamil: கொழும்பு இலகு ரக ரயில் கட்டமைப்பு) (also referred to as the Western Region Megapolis Light Rail Transit System) is a metropolitan light rail system under construction serving the designated Western Region Megapolis area within the Colombo District, Sri Lanka.[1] The system is planned to be operated as a public-private partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and selected private entities.[3]

Colombo Light Rail
කොළඹ සැහැල්ලු දුම්රිය සංක්‍රමණ පද්ධතිය
கொழும்பு இலகு ரக ரயில்
Overview
Area servedWestern Region Megapolis
LocaleColombo District/Western Region Megapolis
Transit typeLight Rail/Light Metro/Light Rapid Transit
Number of lines7 (proposed)[1]
Operation
Operation will start2025[2]
CharacterElevated or at grade
Train length4 compartments (2020s-2035)
6 compartments (2035 and beyond)
Technical
System length75 km (47 mi)

Infrastructure

The system is expected to consist of 7 lines (with a mix of both elevated and at grade) and cover a total distance of 75 km.[3] The project's construction is divided into 7 phases, with phase 1 encompassing the construction of part of RTS 1 (Fort to Union Place) and RTS 5 (Battaramulla to Malabe), along with the entirety of RTS 4 (scheduled to begin in late 2018/early 2019), and phases 2 through 7 expanding the network throughout the planned Western Region Megapolis.[3]

Tenders for phases 2 through 6 are scheduled to be called in mid-2018, with construction of the lines taking place simultaneously.[3] All seven phases are expected to be operational by 2023, and cost a total of $6 billion.[3] An extension into the Colombo International Financial City is planned; further expansions beyond 2023 are also planned, with possible extensions of the network to cover Homagama, Horana and Mirigama.[3][4]

Phase 1

Construction/engineering feasibility studies, an environmental impact assessment and a social impact assessment for phase 1 (carried out by Seoyoung Engineering) began in late November 2017, and are slated for completion by June 2018.[3][5] Tenders are also due to be called for the selection of investors for a central maintenance depot.[3] Phase 1 covers 15.8 km with 17 planned stations on two lines, and a planned travel time of 27 minutes.[3][6]

Stations in Phase 1 of the Colombo Light Rail project

Phase 1, costing $1.25 billion, is funded by a concessionary loan from Japan.[3][7][8] Construction began on 3 July 2019.[9]

Lines[1]
Name (temporary) Map colour Status Type Length Termini No.
Stations
RTS 1 Green Under construction Elevated 15.8 kilometres (9.8 mi) Fort Malabe IT park 16
RTS 2 Orange Feasibility study pending Elevated 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) Fort Mattakuliya
(Western branch)
Peliyagoda
(Eastern branch)		 TBD
RTS 3 Red Feasibility study pending Elevated 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) Dematagoda Bambalapitiya TBD
RTS 4 Purple Feasibility study ongoing Elevated/at grade 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) Borella Battaramulla TBD
RTS 5 Pink Feasibility study ongoing (Battaramulla to Malabe) Elevated/at grade 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) Battaramulla Kottawa TBD
RTS 6 Olive Feasibility study pending Elevated/at grade 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) Malabe Kaduwela TBD
RTS 7 Grey Feasibility study pending Elevated/at grade 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) Peliyagoda Kadawatha TBD

See also

References
  1. Western Region Megapolis Transport Master Plan: Final Report, November 2016. Ministry of Megapolis & Western Development. November 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. "Light Rail Transit operations to commence in 2025". www.dailynews.lk. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. Gunasekara, Skandha (23 November 2017). "Light Rail project to kick off in December 2018". ft.lk. Daily Financial Times. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  4. "Expressway, tunnels, LRT to connect reclaimed China Port City in Sri Lanka". economynext.com. EconomyNext. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. "Sri Lanka to conduct feasibility studies for Light Rail Transit systems in Colombo, suburbs". colombopage.com. Colombopage. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. "JICA kicks off study for Colombo-Malabe elevated LRT". lankabusinessonline.com. Lanka Business Online. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  7. "Sri Lanka Megapolis light rail feasiblity starts, EOIs by year-end". economynext.com. EconomyNext. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  8. "Japanese loan to fund Colombo light rail project". railwaygazette.com. Railway Gazette. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. "LRT project to be inaugurated today". dailynews.lk. 3 July 2019.
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