Udarata Menike

Udarata Menike උඩරට මැණිකේ
The Udarata Menike emerges from a tunnel on the scenic hill-country line
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Locale	Sri Lanka
First service	23 April 1956[1]
Last service	present
Current operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)	Ceylon Government Railway
Route
Start	Colombo Fort
End	Badulla
Distance travelled	290 km (180 mi.)
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	1015 (Colombo Fort-Badulla) 1016 (Badulla-Colombo Fort)[2]
Technical
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Route map [ v t e ] Main Line Legend Badulla Hali Ela Uduwara Demodara loop Demodara Kithal Ella Ella Heel Oya Kinigama Bandarawela Diyatalawa Haputale Tangamale Sanctuary Idalgashinna Ohiya Summit 1898.1m above MSL Pattipola Ambewela Horton Plains National Park Parakramapura Closed Udapussellawa Line Nanu Oya Radella Great Western Watagoda Upper Kothmale Reservoir Thalawakele Kotagala Hatton Rozella Ihala Watawala Watawala Galboda Penrose Inguruoya Hightenford Mahaweli Ganga Nawalapitiya Pallegama Ulapane Warakapitiya Thembiligala Wallahagoda Gampola Kahatapitiya Gangathilakaya Weligalla Polgaha Anga Gelioya Koshinna Matale Line Peradeniya Junction Barammane Pilimatalawa Kadugannawa Balana Ihala Kotte Gangoda Yatiwaldeinya Kadigamuwa Rambukkana Kuda Oya Yatagama Tismalpola Panaliya Northern Line Polgahawela Junction Walakumbura Alawwa Bujjomuwa Yattalgoda Maha Oya Ambepussa Botale Wilwatta Mirigama Wijaya Rajadahana Ganegoda Pallewela Keenawala Wadurawa Veyangoda Heendeniya Pattiyagoda Magalegoda Bemmulla Daraluwa Gampaha Yagoda Ganemulla Bulugahagoda Batuwaththa Walpola Puttalam Line Ragama Junction Horape Ederamulla Hunupitiya Wanawasala Kelaniya Kelani River Dematagoda Kelani Valley Line Maradana St Sebastian Canal Colombo Fort Coast Line

Udarata Menike (Sinhala: උඩරට මැණිකේ, Hill Country Maiden) is a daytime passenger train that runs between Colombo and Badulla in Sri Lanka.

The Udarata Menike made its maiden journey on 23 April 1956. The Badulla-bound train departs from Colombo at 9.30 a.m.,^[3] while the Colombo-bound train leaves Badulla at 5.55 a.m. The trip takes about 10 hours.^[4]

Services

The train offers three classes, of which the first class observation car is very popular with tourists. The train also includes a buffet car.^[3]

• 1st class observation car is very popular among tourists. The observation car provides wide views of the scenery and is normally at the rear of the train but occasionally behind the locomotive.

• 2nd class

• 3rd class typically gets very crowded and carries only basic facilities.

Route

The Udarata Menike travels the length of Sri Lanka Railways' Main Line through the hill country.

The Udarata Menike begins its eastbound service at Colombo Fort Station and runs east and north past the rapidly developing centers of Ragama, Gampaha, Veyangoda, and Polgahawela. At Rambukkana, the Main Line begins its steep climb into the hills of the upcountry. Between Balana and Kadugannawa, the track clings to the side of sheer cliffs, offering passengers spectacular views of Batalegala ('Bible' Rock). The train then continues its climb through the scenic tea country, connecting busy local market centers at Gampola, Nawalapitiya, and Hatton before reaching Nanu-Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still popular for its temperate climate, classic hotels, and British-style gardens. The Udarata Menika continues its ascent to the summit at Pattipola, 6,226 feet above sea level, before descending past Bandarawela to Badulla Terminus. In the upcountry, passengers are rewarded with views of tea gardens, mountains and valleys, cascading torrents and waterfalls.

Rolling Stock

The service was run by M6 locomotives pulling Romanian-built ASTRA passenger coaches.^[5]

In Operation

This service is now carried out by Class S12 DMUs.

See also

Sri Lanka Railways

List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka

References

External links

• Great Railway Journeys of the World: Colombo to Badulla on the Udarata Menike Express (or: Why do you need to buy a newspaper before travelling on this train?), by Gyan C. A. Fernando,
• ASTRA Passenger Coaches