We arrived bright and early the following day to wait for our train. We found it hard to know where to go. There are 11 platforms at Colombo Fort, but they are not clearly marked and we found that we had to ask for help from local travellers, as there are no Railways Staff to ask either.
(On a later trip, to Negombo, we were variously told to wait at platform, 2, 1 and 9, while the one information board in the station said platform 11, and even when we found staff we were just told to listen for announcements - the train eventually left from platform 1).
(On a later trip, to Negombo, we were variously told to wait at platform, 2, 1 and 9, while the one information board in the station said platform 11, and even when we found staff we were just told to listen for announcements - the train eventually left from platform 1).
We boarded the train, but it was really hard to work out which carriage we were supposed to be in. An enthusiastic local helped us (but wanted money to support a supposed charity).
There was no electricity on the train until a locomotive was connected which made it very difficult to see seat numbers, but we got there in the end. Thank goodness for the torch app on phones!
There was no electricity on the train until a locomotive was connected which made it very difficult to see seat numbers, but we got there in the end. Thank goodness for the torch app on phones!
Our train to Habarana left Colombo Fort station more or less on time. The carriage was old, dirty and unairconditioned. There were (ineffective) electric fans in the roof - and its saving grace was that we could open the windows. This meant that, despite the frightful heat, there was a good breeze through the carriage.
The train trip was fairly uneventful. We weren't entirely sure we were seated in the right place until the guard checked our tickets, a couple of hours into the journey.
It didn't really matter because, despite the Tourist Information Office's advice that the trains would be jam-packed because of the Ramadan holidays, the train was mostly empty.
The trip to Habarana was long: close to seven hours. We saw the landscape change from the lush rice paddies and jungles of the lowlands to the drier interior of the north.
We saw cows, birds, people and towns, rivers, hills and the jungle, as well as a large number of broken railway wagons, left by the side of tracks to disintegrate.
We could more or less track where we were on our big map of Sri Lanka, but it didn't have all the station names, so we again found ourselves wishing that there was an official map of the railway network. It really would have made life easier for us.
A steady supply of refreshments was available on the train. There were people selling water and a variety of fresh snacks, tea and (instant) coffee.
The snacks, ranging from pakora-style fried vege patties to rotis, were delivered in baskets, with little apparent regard for basic food hygiene. But the food was fresh, vegetarian, delicious, and we suffered no ill-effects. We enjoyed it.
The train ride was long, and it was hot. But it was a great part of our trip, and far more fun than a chauffered car.
We give our rate 8/10. Recomended !, if you want to feel the real local of Sri Lanka.
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