Colombo to Kandy train

Is there a train from Colombo to Kandy right now?

Quick answer: Not into Kandy station, and no trains on the Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola stretch on 24 and 25 October 2026, when Sri Lanka Railways has suspended them. On 25 October 2026 the suspension was extended until further notice, so plan to reach Kandy by bus or car for now. Before the suspension, apart from earlier landslide delays, trains from Colombo Fort had run to Peradeniya, about 7 km before Kandy, and to Gampola since 2 October 2026. The last stretch into Kandy is closed until the Peradeniya "Black Bridge" is restored, and no reopening date had been given by 19 October 2026. When trains run, take the train to Peradeniya, then a tuk-tuk or bus into Kandy.

The line from Colombo to Kandy was badly damaged by Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. The railway said the Rambukkana to Gampola section had 103 damaged sites, restored with help from the National Building Research Organisation (Daily Mirror, 28 Sep 2026). Trains came back as far as Peradeniya and Gampola on 2 October 2026. Kandy station itself still has no trains.

What time are the trains from Colombo to Peradeniya?

These are the times Sri Lanka Railways announced for the 2 October restart, as reported on 28 September 2026 (Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka Mirror). The evening trains started on 2 October and the morning trains on 3 October. These times are for reference only: all trains between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola are suspended until further notice (see the updates above), and we have not seen a restart date.

Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and Gampola

Peradeniya and Gampola to Colombo Fort

We could not confirm these times on the railway's own timetable site because it was offline on 19 October 2026. Call the Sri Lanka Railways 1971 line or ask at Colombo Fort before you travel.

A note on train numbers. The Podi Menike from Colombo uses the number 1005, and so does the morning train from Nanu Oya to Ella. They do not connect. On the pre-suspension times, the Colombo train reached Gampola at 9.06 am, and the Nanu Oya train leaves Nanu Oya at 9.00 am. No trains run between Gampola and Nanu Oya.

How do you get from Peradeniya station to Kandy?

Peradeniya Junction is about 6.8 km by road from Kandy station, around 9 minutes with no traffic on an OpenStreetMap route we checked on 19 October 2026. In practice, allow 20 to 30 minutes in Kandy traffic.

If you are heading straight to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the tuk-tuk can drop you near the lake. See our Kandy guide for where to stay.

Why don't trains go into Kandy station?

Kandy station sits on a short branch from Peradeniya Junction. That branch crosses the Peradeniya railway bridge, known locally as the Black Bridge, which is still being restored after the cyclone.

• On 2 October 2026, the Department of Railways said about 75 per cent of the Upcountry line was running and that trains to Kandy and Matale would resume once the bridge is restored (Colombo Times, 2 Oct 2026).
• The same day, the Minister of Transport said work on the bridge was being sped up. He gave no finish date (Daily Mirror, 2 Oct 2026).
• On 19 October 2026, the railway's media notices page showed no notice reopening Kandy station.

Our Kandy to Ella train guide tracks every section of the line and will note when Kandy reopens.

Are trains running on time?

Not always. A slope near Kadigamuwa station, between Rambukkana and Peradeniya, has slipped onto the track several times:

• On 16 October 2026 a landslide blocked the line near Kadigamuwa for the third time (Daily Mirror).
• On 17 October 2026, soil fell on the tracks at about 5.15 am, delaying a train from Polgahawela to Gampola and services towards Gampola and Colombo Fort (Daily Mirror).
• On 21 October 2026, earth from the same hillside near Kadigamuwa fell onto the track again. Trains that left Colombo Fort at 3.35 pm for Gampola and Peradeniya were stopped at Rambukkana, railway authorities told the Daily Mirror, and services from Colombo Fort to Gampola and Peradeniya were disrupted (Ada Derana). No time for clearing the line had been given when we checked that night.
• On 22 October 2026, soil from the embankment near Kadigamuwa washed onto the tracks in the morning and again in the evening. Trains from Colombo Fort towards Gampola and Peradeniya were held at Rambukkana, and the evening train from Gampola to Colombo Fort was also affected, the Railways Department told the Daily Mirror. No time for a lasting fix had been given when we checked that evening.
• On 24 and 25 October 2026, all train services between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola are suspended after a landslide near Kadigamuwa Railway Station. The Railways Department scheduled emergency repair work for both days and said reserved-seat holders get a full refund at any railway station (Daily Mirror, Newswire, Hiru News, 23 October 2026).
• On 25 October 2026 (evening) the Railways Department extended the suspension: all trains between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola are suspended from midnight at the end of 25 October until further notice, with no restart date given (Daily Mirror, Newswire, 25 October 2026).

The NBRO landslide warning issued on 18 October 2026 still listed Rambukkana and other Kegalle divisions at Level 1 (Yellow), with four Kegalle divisions at Level 2 (Amber) (NBRO warning, 18 Oct 2026). In the October and November rains, leave spare time and keep a road backup for any flight or tour you must make.

The newest warning we read, on the evening of 26 October 2026, was NBRO's landslide early warning valid from 6 pm on 26 October to 6 pm on 27 October. It put Rambukkana, Kegalle, Mawanella, Ruwanwella, Galigamuwa, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota, Warakapola and Bulathkohupitiya in Kegalle District, and Pasbage Korale, Udunuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in Kandy District, at Level 2 (Amber). Doluwa, Hatharaliyadda, Thumpane, Gangawata Korale, Udadumbara, Akurana, Kundasale and Medadumbara in Kandy were at Level 1 (Yellow). Ambagamuwa Korale and Norwood in Nuwara Eliya District, six divisions of Ratnapura District, and Bulathsinhala and Dodangoda in Kalutara District were at Level 3 (Red) (NBRO landslide early warning, 6 pm, PDF). The Met Department's 4 pm forecast on 26 October said showery conditions are expected to continue in the south-west of the island over the next few days (Met Department forecast, 4 pm, PDF). That warning ended at 6 pm on 27 October. NBRO's next notice, issued at 4 pm on 27 October (LEWM-27-10-2026-1600-34, the 34th update) and valid until 4 pm on 28 October, lists these same divisions at the same levels (NBRO landslide early warning, 4 pm on 27 October, PDF). Check the newest one before you travel.

Delays between Rambukkana and Kandy are recurring while soil keeps washing onto the line at Kadigamuwa, so build in buffer time and check Sri Lanka Railways on the day of travel.

How much is the train from Colombo to Kandy?

These are the basic fares from Colombo Fort in Sri Lanka Railways' fare table dated 4 July 2022 (SLR fare table, PDF). They are the newest published table we found on 19 October 2026, so treat them as a guide and check the price when you buy.

Reserved seats bought online show their own price before you pay, and the booking site adds a 5 per cent convenience fee on card or LankaQR payments (SLR reservation FAQ). Our train booking and prices guide explains classes and fees across all lines.

How do you book the Colombo to Kandy train?

Reserved seats are sold on the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site. Its FAQ, checked on 19 October 2026, says:

1. Create an account first.
2. You can book from 30 days before departure until 2 hours before.
3. You can book up to 5 seats at a time, and you need a NIC or passport number for every passenger.
4. You cannot choose your seat number.
5. The e-ticket works printed or on your phone. It cannot be transferred to someone else.
6. Refunds: 75 per cent if you cancel more than 168 hours (7 days) before departure, 50 per cent between 48 and 168 hours, and nothing within 48 hours.

If you have no reservation, buy an unreserved ticket at the station counter on the day and arrive early to find a seat.

Is the train, a car or the bus best from Colombo to Kandy?

Coming straight from the airport? Our Colombo airport to Kandy guide compares the car and bus options and explains why the train is off for now.

Can you continue from Kandy to Ella by train?

Not yet. As of 19 October 2026, there is no train between Gampola and Nanu Oya. The common workaround is a car from Kandy to Nanu Oya, about 79 km and around 1 h 40 min with no traffic on OpenStreetMap, then the train from Nanu Oya to Ella. Our Nanu Oya to Ella train guide has those times, and the Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya guide explains the station transfer if you stay in Nuwara Eliya.