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Udarata Menike

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Udarata Menike උඩරට මැණිකේ
உடரட்ட மெணிக்கே
Overview
Service typeExpress train
StatusIn service
LocaleSri Lanka
First service23 April 1956[1]
Last servicepresent
Current operator(s)Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)Ceylon Government Railway
Route
TerminiColombo Fort railway station
StopsBadulla railway station
Distance travelled290 km (180 mi)
Average journey time10–12 hours
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)1015 (Colombo Fort-Badulla)
1016 (Badulla-Colombo Fort)[2]
On-board services
Sleeping arrangementsNot available
Observation facilitiesN
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Route map
Badulla
Tunnel No. 43
Hali Ela
Uduwara
Demodara Loop
Demodara & Tunnel No. 42
Tunnel No. 41
Nine Arch Bridge
Tunnel No. 40
Ella
Kithal Ella
Heel Oya
Kinigama
Tunnel No. 39
Bandarawela
Tunnel No. 38
Diyatalawa
Tunnel No. 37
Haputale
Glenonare
Tangamale Sanctuary
Tunnel No. 36
Idalgashinna
Tunnel No. 22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34 & 35
Ohiya
Tunnel No. 18 (Pattipola Tunnel),19,20 & 21
Summit 1898.1m above MSL
Pattipola
Ambewela
Horton Plains National Park
Parakramapura
Closed Uda Pussellawa Railway Line
Nanu Oya
Tunnel No. 17
Radella
Great Western
Watagoda
Upper Kotmale Reservoir
Tunnel No. 16
Thalawakele
Tunnel No. 15
St.Clair
Kotagala
Galkandawatta
Tunnel No. 14 (Singha Malai Tunnel)
Hatton
Rozella
Ihala Watawala
Watawala
Wewalthalawa
Dekinda
Galboda
Tunnel No. 12 & 13
Penrose
Inguruoya
Hightenford
Selam
Mahaweli Ganga
Nawalapitiya
Warakawa
Pallegama
Ulapane
Warakapitiya
Thembiligala
Wallahagoda
Gampola
Kahatapitiya
Gangathilaka
Botalepitiya
Weligalla
Polgaha Anga
Gelioya
Koshinna
A sub river of Mahaweli Ganga
Matale Line
Peradeniya Junction
KiribathKumbura
Barammane
Pilimatalawa
Urapola
Kotabagolla
Kadugannawa
Tunnel No. 10 (Moragalla Tunnel) & 11
Weralugolla
Tunnel No. 9
Balana
Tunnel No. 6, 7 & 8
Makehelwala
Bambaragala
Ihala Kotte
Tunnel No. 5A (Meeyangalla Tunnel)
Gangoda
Tunnel No. 5
Yatiwaldeinya
Kadigamuwa
Tunnel No. 2, 3 & 4
Rambukkana
Rambukkan Oya
Yatagama
Korossa
Tismalpola
Panaliya
Northern Line
Polgahawela Junction
Walakumbura
Alawwa
Bujjomuwa
Yattalgoda
Maha Oya
Ambepussa
Botale
Tunnel No. 1
Wilwatta
Mirigama
Wijaya Rajadahana
 E04  Central Expressway
Ganegoda
Pallewela
Keenawala
Wadurawa
Veyangoda
Heendeniya Pattiyagoda
Magalegoda
 E04  Central Expressway
Bemmulla
Daraluwa
Gampaha
Attanagalu Oya
Yagoda
 E04  Central Expressway
Ganemulla
Bulugahagoda
Batuwaththa
Walpola
Puttalam Line
Ragama Junction
Horape
 E02  Outer Circular Expressway
Ederamulla
Hunupitiya
Wanawasala
Kelaniya
Kelani River
Dematagoda
Kelani Valley Line
Maradana
Colombo Fort
Coast Line

Udarata Menike (Sinhala: උඩරට මැණිකේ, lit.'Up-Country Maiden') is a daytime passenger train operated by the Sri Lanka Railways that runs between Colombo and Badulla in the Highlands. Introduced in 1956, it is one of the first Named-passenger trains and one of the most popular trains among tourists and even among railfans in Sri Lanka.

The end-to-end travel time of the route is 10–12 hours as the train climbs through the steep mountainous terrain during most of its journey.

History

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Named-Express Passenger trains were introduced in Ceylon in 1955 with the arrival of Class M1 and Class M2 locomotives from the United Kingdom and Canada respectively. The first train to be inaugurated was Ruhunu Kumari Express from Colombo to the Southern Sri Lankan cities of Galle and Matara. This train became very popular among Sri Lankans so the Government decided to introduce two other long-distance trains; Udarata Menike Express from Colombo to Badulla and Yarl Devi Express from Colombo to the Northern cities of Anuradhapura and Jaffna.

Both Udarata Menike and Yarl Devi made their maiden journeys on 23 April 1956. Udarata Menike was numbered No. 15 for the Upward journey to Badulla and No. 16 for the Downward journey to Colombo.

In the 1960s, The Badulla-bound train departed Colombo at 9.30 a.m.,[3] while the Colombo-bound train left Badulla at 5.45 a.m. The Train was equipped with 9 Carriages with an Observation Saloon attached to the end.

Services

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The train offers three classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd, The latter sometimes gets crowded and carries only basic facilities. The train also includes a buffet car.[3]

The observation saloon has been removed since the introduction of Class S12 DMUs.

Route

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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 centres 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, providing views of Batalegala ('Bible' Rock). The train then continues its climb through the scenic tea country, connecting local market centres at Gampola, Nawalapitiya, and Hatton before reaching Nanu-Oya. This is the connection to the former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, still visited for its temperate climate, classic hotels, and British-style gardens. The Udarata Menika continues its ascent to the summit at Pattipola, 1,898 m (6,227 ft) above sea level, before descending past Bandarawela to Badulla railway station. In the upcountry, passengers can view the tea gardens, mountains, valleys, and waterfalls.[citation needed]

Rolling stock

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The service was run by M6 locomotives pulling Romanian-built ASTRA passenger coaches.[4] This service is now carried out by Class S14 DMUs.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Island". Rampala regime in the local Railway History. 19 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka Railways Timetable" Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "A beginner's guide to Train travel in Sri Lanka . . ."
  4. ^ http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/slrails.html The Railways of Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
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