Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
Sri-LankaColombo Fort Railway Station
Colombo Fort Railway Station is the main railway station not only Colombo, but also the entire Sri Lanka. All railway lines diverge from here to the south, north and east inland. This is the only place from where you can go by train to any point without changing. Here it is also necessary to change trains if you need to transfer from the northern branch to the southern or eastern, for example.
At the same time, Colombo Fort station is one of the most significant geographical points of reference in Colombo itself. Colombo Intercity bus stations are located within walking distance next to it. Almost all city buses going to the Pettah area stop near the railway station. That's where Colombo Fort station on the Colombo map
The train schedule from this station and in Sri Lanka in general can be found on the website https://eservices.railway.gov.lk.
We have a detailed guide on how to travel by train in Sri Lanka. It's all about routes, types of tickets and where to buy them, where to find out the schedule and everything else. Read our instructions about Sri Lanka trains here, and you will know everything!
How to get to Colombo Fort railway station
As mentioned above, almost all Colombo city buses going to the Pettah area pass by the railway station. Therefore, if you see the inscription Colombo Fort or Pettah on the windshield of the bus, then he is coming here. Just don't forget to make sure that he goes in the direction of the district, and not vice versa.
Bus fare costs literally pennies, from 40 rupees. Payment to the conductor in the cabin, you just need to tell him where you are going, since the fare depends on the distance.
To get here from the airport after arrival, you can also use the city bus. Bus route No. 187 goes here. It departs often during the day, and about 1 time per hour at night, 50 minutes on the way. Cost from 290 rupees (0.87 USD), plus they can request payment for large luggage. Their stop is located between the domestic and international terminals, it is to the right of the exit from the international terminal about 50 meters away. That is, get out of the terminal after arrival, and immediately go along the building to the right, do not miss the stop (parking of 187 buses on the map).
In the city center, No. 187 arrives at its stop in the Pettah area next to the main bus station (bus stop 187 in Colombo on the map). To the railway station from it on foot a few minutes.
Station setup and orientation
The device of the station is extremely simple: it consists of one building. But there are subtleties with places to buy tickets.
Ticket offices (windows) are located along the station, there are about 18 of them in total. Different windows sell tickets in different directions and for different classes of cars, so in order not to stand in line in vain, first determine the ticket office you need. You can do this by following the inscriptions in each of the ticket offices, find information on the general information board, or just ask any passerby.
But the most important window that you need is the cash register No. 17. These cash desks are located in a separate room to the left of all other cash desks, there is a sign "No. 17". First and second class tickets with a reserved seat in advance are sold here. That is, if at other ticket offices you can buy tickets just before departure, and it will be a ticket without a seat, then here they sell tickets in advance and with an assigned seat number in the cabin.
There is also a special pavilion where tickets are sold specifically for tourists on tourist trains. It is located on the right side of the station (in the west), when viewed from the road to the entrance.
Entrance to the station to the platforms is made only upon presentation of a ticket. There are waiting seats on the platforms, free toilets. Crossings between platforms on the bridge over the railway tracks.
There are toilets inside, and there is a special toilet for tourists, where locals are not allowed. There is a luggage storage (Cloakroom) at the station, where you can leave things for a long time.
Everywhere, both outside and inside, there are schedules and electronic scoreboards. It is not always easy to understand the platform designations, so it is better to use the help of local ones. And one more thing: trains here do not always run according to schedule, and therefore there is a chance to leave the right platform at the right time on the wrong train. In order not to make a mistake, before boarding it is better to ask for help from the locals and show your ticket.