Southern rail service fully operational from April

Waruna PADMASIRI

The Southern train service from Colombo to Matara will be fully operational before the Next Sinhala and Tamil New Year according to the Sri Lanka Railway Department General Manager B.A.D. Ariyaratne.

The first phase of upgrading of the Southern railway line from Matara to Galle was completed in February 2011. The Second phase of the project from Galle to Aluthgama is to be completed by February 21, 2012.

The third phase will start on January 1 between Aluthgama and Kaluthara.

The train service between Kalutara and Aluthgama will not be operational from January 1 until April 2012. However, the train service from Kalutara to Colombo will continue without any change. The train Service will resume its services from Galle to Aluthgama from February 21, 2012.

Once the revamped Southern Railway is fully operational, the railway department expects the total travel time between Colombo to Matara to be cut down by at least 40-50 minutes.