Try to get to the Colombo Fort Railway Station early. I found it fascinating watching the suburban trains arriving and departing. To beat the crowds to a seat many local people would walk onto the railway track. I couldn't at first work out why they were doing this.

Colombo Fort Railway Station Sri Lanka Front

There were lots of commuters waiting on the platform to board the train. They would have to wait until the people on the train got off first before they could enter the railway coach. The people on the other side of the train, away from the platform, waiting on the track, jumped aboard the train before it stopped. This was a sneaky if dangerous method of jumping the queue to get a seat. Colombo Fort Railway Station

Colombo Fort Railway station is the main station. It doesn't look it from the outside. It has the charm and qualities of a Railway Station for the age of Steam. I'm sorry to say you will not see any steam engines pulling coaches waiting at the platforms. Today all the trains are diesel electric.

There is a canteen where you can buy cold bottled drinks and snacks for your journey. The station has male and female toilets for the use of local commuters. They are basic, smelly and holes in the ground. There are western toilets intended for use of the tourists. They are normally locked so you have to go to the Station Masters Office and ask for the key.

Colombo Fort Railway Station statue at the front with flag poles flying the Sri Lankan Flag

IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIP. Book your train tickets as soon as you arrive in Colombo. They get sold out very early, especially the air conditioned 1st class observation coaches to Kandy. At the present time you cannot book them over the internet. Although there is a ticket office phone number advertised I was never able to get anyone to answer the phone. You physically have to attend the advanced ticket booking office to reserve your seats.

The prices are extremely cheap considering the distance you are travelling. We left it too late. I arrived three days in advance and all the 1st class tickets for the day I wanted to travel had already been sold. Don't be too down hearted if you cannot get the seats you want. We went in 2nd class coaches and they were comfortable.

The cooling breeze coming through the open windows was very refreshing. As you got nearer to Kandy and gained altitude you noticed the change in climate from the hot tropics of the coastal plain to a more pleasant cooler less humid temperate climate of the foothills of Sri Lanka's central highlands.

Catching a train from the track side to beat the rush at Colombo Fort Railway Station

Try to get to the Colombo Fort Railway Station early. I found it fascinating watching the suburban trains arriving and departing. To beat the crowds to a seat many local people would walk onto the railway track. I couldn't at first work out why they were doing this. There were lots of commuters waiting on the platform to board the train. They would have to wait until the people on the train got off first before they could enter the railway coach. The people on the other side of the train, away from the platform, waiting on the track, jumped aboard the train before it stopped. This was a sneaky if dangerous method of jumping the queue to get a seat.

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