Colombo to Jaffna Train Service

Colombo to Jaffna Train service is being operated by the Sri Lanka Government Railways on daily basis. Most of the trains are running fully packed with reserved seats. In addition there used to be special train services are added to this route. Even though lot of Luxury busses are operating between Jaffna and Colombo. So make your train seat reservation early. Daily train services are available from Jaffna and Colombo. On Week ends express Night Train is running to Jaffna via Colombo. And on Sundays this Jaffna bound Train will leave via Colombo Fort Station. As per the Sri Lanka Railways, 4 trains are starting from Colombo while 4 trains are starting from Jaffna station daily. Train seats can be booked or reserved 30 days prior to your journey.

You can buy normal priced tickets at any station at the time of your travelling for un-reserved compartment seats. Passengers are not allowed in Reserved Compartments even standing with normal tickets.

Special Notice:

Jaffna to Colombo train service is now limited on the Northern Line from January 2024. It will continue up to 6 months due to rail track construction between Mahawa and Anuradhapura. Bus service will be provided between these points for to connect travelling to Jaffna and Colombo. Train passengers must take notice of this repairs.

Special Intercity Train Operating Time

From Mount Lavinia at 10 pm (every Friday) to Kankesanthurai 5:54 am
Train From Kankesanthurai 10 pm (every Sunday) 6:00 am Mount Lavinia

From January 2024 till May 2024 maintenance works will be carried out on the Jaffna - Colombo railway line. Due to this all the trains will travel up to Anuradhapura station. Passengers can continue their journey to Jaffna by bus up to Mahav or to Vavuniya and can board in the Sri Devi train to Jaffna. Nearly 38 busses are arranged to provide service during this time.

Currently in this year 2024 a fully air-conditioned Chinese built Luxury train is operating between Jaffna town and Colombo city at 100Km/h Speed. The journey takes around 6 hours and the ticket price is priced at Rs 3,200/- for a person. New Uttara Devi train was introduced with Indian Engine and Compartments. It can carry around 750 passengers and most of its compartments are Air Conditioned. This Colombo bound train can reach Jaffna town by 6.30 hours of running time. A/C Express Train and Uttara Devi trains are popular with the Jaffna bound travelers. Yarldevi Train ticket price (for the A/C): Rs 2,800,/- and the Second Class ticket price is Rs 1,900/-.

All Jaffna Train compartments are manned with ticket checkers and no standing passengers are allowed in the compartments. Likewise small time vendors too are not allowed in the compartments. Train seat booking facility is available for first, second and third class carriages along with Sleeper compartments. For example 2nd class reserved seat in the Intercity can be booked one way at the respective railway station. Lot of people use these trains to travel to the North, so make your seat booking early as possible. During the Nallur festival, Railways used to attach extra First Class Compartments.

All the Jaffna bound trains used to start from Colombo Fort except the Express A/C train and Yarl Devi which used to start from Mount Lavinia railway station. This train used to travel via Wellawatte and Colombo Fort to Jaffna. Likewise all the Jaffna -Colombo bound trains used to finish their journey in Colombo Fort station except the A/C train and the Yarl Devi which will travel up to Mount Lavinia Station.

At the Colombo Fort railway station you can find tourist ticket counter. This is arranged for the tourists to get their train tickets easily and they can make seat reservation to any destination that the Srilanka railways can take them. Most popular destination with the tourists is Kandy and Ella. Train journey between Kandy and Ella is considered as beautiful and scenic one by world class travelers.

1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class compartments are available depending the train's service time. Both the reserved and unreserved seats are available in the trains. You can simply go to the railway station and can buy a 3rd class ticket 15 minutes before the journey and go to the announced platform and can get in to the compartment to start the journey. If you are lucky you can find a good window side seat which is preferred by most of the people for a comfortable journey. There are four train services are running daily from Colombo Fort via Vavuniya, Jaffna to Kankesanthurai (KKS).

Train booking can be cancelled 6 hours prior to your journey and there will be a 25% dedication will apply. When getting your train ticket at the counter, read the destination, date and time carefully. If there is any error, you are allowed to change in within 15 minutes from the ticket issuing time. This E-Ticket should be shown at the entrance when you are entering the station and it should be handed over at the departing station. Find your compartment and sit in your numbered seat. Provide the train ticket to the checker in the compartment and after inspection get it back, You have to hand over this E-Ticket at the station where you are leaving the train. You can find many good hotels and lodges around the Jaffna railway station which used to accept online and over the phone room bookings for your pleasant stay over there.

Sri Lanka Train Ticket Reservation / Booking.
The passenger must fill a form with the passenger's NIC numbers / Passport number that is available in the Railway Reservation Counter. Also, Train details , travel date and other passengers National Identity Card / Passport Number, contact phone number should be filled in it. Must provide this to the station counter along with the required cash. Also travelers can check seat availability in the official Government Railway website.

Canteens/Resturants are available inside of the Colombo, Anuradhapura and Jaffna Railway stations.

Distance between Colombo and Jaffna is 397.8 km.

Source: Sri Lanka Railways