History of Sri Lankan Transport
River Transport , Ceylon , Early 1900’s
This picture of old Sri Lanka demonstrates the Ceylonese use of coconut palms on the roofs of their water vessels. Boats were often constructed out of large trees. These would be hollowed out in the center. The vessel would be kept from capsizing thanks to bent pieces of wood at each end and a long spare extending into the water
Richshaw Operators at Victoria Park, Colombo
Colombo Victoria Park in the middle of Colombo and was named in honor of Queen Victoria . The fares for a rickshaw operators were calculated by time instead of distance. Rickshaws drawn by 2 operators were more expensive, as was hiring a rickshaw in the evenings
History of Sri Lanka Railway
The Railway, then known as Ceylon Government Railways, was conceived in the 1850’s as an instrument to develop and unify the country. The 1st sod of the Sri Lanka Railways was cut by Sir Henry Ward, the Governor, in August in1858. The 1st Train ran on 27th December 1864, with the construction of the Main Line from Colombo to Ambepussa, 54 kilometers to the east. This line was officially opened for traffic on 02nd October 1865. The Railway extended and developed it’s network and in 1927 , a total route length of 1530 km was in operation . The Main Line was extended in stages, with service to Kandy in 1867, to Nawalapitiya in 1874, to Nanu-Oya in 1885, to Bandarawela in 1894, and to Badulla in 1924. Other lines were completed in due course to link the other parts of the country, the Matale Line in 1880, the Coast Line in 1895, the Northern Line in 1905, the Mannar Line in 1914, the Kelani Valley Line in 1919, the Puttalam Line in 1926, and the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Lines in 1928. The Railway was initially built to transport coffee and tea from the hill country to Colombo for export and was for many years, the main source of income. With population growth, however, passenger traffic increased and in the 1960’s overtook freight as the main source of business. The Railway is now primarily engaged in the transport of passengers, especially commuters to and from Colombo, offering a vital service and reducing road congestion
A Government Railway bridge in Ceylon 1880-1890
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Rolling Stock
The First Rolling Stock landed in Ceylon in 1864. These engines were 4-4-0 Type, two wheeled coupled with a tender, with a fuel capacity of 5 Tons and 15,200, Gallons of water. The length was 49 ft. over buffers and 59 tons in weight. These engines were in use till 1926. Three and Four driving wheel locomotives, with Saturated Steam Super Heater boilers were introduced 1915. Garret Class double headed locomotive were introduced in 1928 to eliminate the need for a 2nd engine to haul trains over a gradient of 1 in 44 in the up-country areas. In 1954 Canadian Government gifted to Ceylon, the M2 Class General Motors Electric Locomotives of 1310 H.P. In the mid 1950s, a Hydraulic Power Coachers were perched for the faster and cleaner service for office workers. A land mark in the history of the railways was the complete dieselization of it’s motive power in 1969 by the introduction of 88 Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives. The first consignment of coaches of 2-Wheeled, 2 Door, with 9’ 6” Wheel Base and 22’ 6” long, equipped with projecting sunshades, bonnet type of ventilator glass drop light and double roof with cocoanut oil lamp started serving in this country and were in service for over nearly 20 years. The railway good service was inaugurated with the type of wagons such as 4 wheeled wooden Covered Wagons
SRI LANKAN RAIL WAY NOW
RAJADHANI EXPRESS
- A/C Super Luxury Compartment
- Butler Service
- Wi-Fi Connectivity
- LCD TV with Movies, Music and Documentaries
- Leather Adjustable Reclining Seats
- Power Outlets to every seat for Laptop and phone users
- Timber flooring
- Timber flooring
- Onboard Snack menu
- Modern clean toilet facilities
EXPO
A trip with Exporail to Kandy the proud capital of Sri Lanka’s beautiful Hill Country takes you from the hum of the vibrant Fort region of Colombo a steaming mass of humanity where market vendors trade nosily and tuk tuk’s swerve on a slow rise through paddy fields, before without really realizing it, you find yourself in a part of the world that seems barely touched by modernization Huge plateau’s surround by tree covered hills that roll on for a seeming eternity into the horizon, with the odd temple or glimpse of the vast tea estates that are indicative of a different era, a slower and more sedate time of British tea planters and gentleman’s clubs. Often likened to the Scottish Highlands imagine that charming part of the world then add a tropical flavor and no icy winds and you are just about there
Facilities- A/C Super Luxury Compartment
- Capacity of 40 Seats
- Wi-Fi Connectivity
- Onboard the compartment
- Onboard entertainment
- On board snacks,Tea/coffee,Steward service
- LCD TV
- Timber flooring
- Power Outlets
- Modern Toilet facilities
- Connected to the Kandy – Colombo – Kandy Intercity Train
Expolanka Group is well known and recognized as an established Conglomerate which has diversified interests in Transportation, International Trading, Manufacturing and Strategic Investment Sectors, with the covenant of “Building a great business with a dare to do spirit.” With its success as a freight forwarder, exporter, travel agent, strategic investor; Expolanka has now ventured into the very latest passenger rail transport. As Sri Lanka thus far has no privately managed trains, Expo Rail has the distinction of being the first of its kind operating in Sri Lanka, setting high standards and redefining Train Travel.
Expo Rail compartments are equipped with state of the art facilities and include luxury styled seating arrangements which are comfortable, spacious and relaxing.
At Expo Rail you are assured a travel experience that is “Unique” in every way. Each and every facet of this luxury train compartment has been looked into with great detail. So sit back and relax while you experience a personalized service that is truly a world apart
The “Expo Rail Team” comprises of a highly skilled and motivated professionals who are geared to meet the requirements of customers with a prime focus on “Quality”. Indulge yourself with the services they have to offer from the time you set foot until you disembark from Expo Rail!
THE VICEROY SPECIAL VINTAGE TRAIN
The “Viceroy Special” is a 75 year old private train and the only steam train still in operation in Sri Lanka. The train has two air-conditioned observation saloons furnished in period style, with 64 plush reclining seats and individual adjustable tables. A public address system is available for guides to describe details of the journey or for suitable music to be broadcast. Each saloon has an adjoining smokers’ lounge and a modern toilet. There is also a restaurant car, elegantly furnished with Edwardian ribbed fans and teak-trimmed wood paneling is complete with a fully equipped kitchen and a well complemented bar.
The “Viceroy Special” transports guests throughout the rail system in Sri Lanka. Especially popular are trips to & from Kandy and the tea plantations of the hill country and down the west coast to the beach resorts. Being steam-hauled, the train can stop on request and guests can photograph scenic beauty spots and even ride in the engine driver’s cabin.
J.F. Tours pioneered the Viceroy Special colonial steam train tours in Sri Lanka way back in 1986, based on the concept of Heritage Railways which has been evolved over the years in many countries in the world to this date. The leisure traveling in historic trains is very popular in these countries but not in Sri Lanka until we started it. The Viceroy Steam train is 75 years old and only one of its kind still in operation in Sri Lanka.
Traveling in Viceroy Special is completely different to what you had already experienced. It gives you a new meaning to your leisure and travel in place of common tour packages. You can enjoy true rail heritage of golden age of steam as you just indulge yourself and sit back and enjoy sights, sounds and senses of the steam train as it was in its good old days. The Viceroy tour has novelty value as it combines the sense of heritage with more relaxing ride that hill country and down the west coast to the beach resorts. Being steam-hauled, the train can stop on request and guests can photograph scenic beauty spots and even ride in the engine driver’s cabin.
J.F. Tours pioneered the Viceroy Special colonial steam train tours in Sri Lanka way back in 1986, based on the concept of Heritage Railways which has been evolved over the years in many countries in the world to this date. The leisure traveling in historic trains is very popular in these countries but not in Sri Lanka until we started it. The Viceroy Steam train is 75 years old and only one of its kind still in operation in Sri Lanka.
Traveling in Viceroy Special is completely different to what you had already experienced. It gives you a new meaning to your leisure and travel in place of common tour packages. You can enjoy true rail heritage of golden age of steam as you just indulge yourself and sit back and enjoy sights, sounds and senses of the steam train as it was in its good old days. The Viceroy tour has novelty value as it combines the sense of heritage with more relaxing ride that the train travel creates in comparison with any other mode of transportation. Mostly the train is hauled by a steam locomotive, but at times when coal is not available it might be taken by diesel loco. You really do get a completely authentic experience in a restored steam train just as it used to be for all rail passengers 50 years ago.
The train has two air-conditioned observation saloons furnished in period style, with 64 luxurious reclining seats and individual adjustable tables. Each saloon has an adjoining smokers lounge and modern toilet. There is also a restaurant car, with a fully equipped kitchen and well complemented bar which facilitate your excursion to the end.
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