Udarata Menike

Udarata Menike උඩරට මැණිකේ
உடரட்ட மெணிக்கே

Overview
Service type	Express train
Status	In service
Locale	Sri Lanka
First service	23 April 1956
Last service	present
Current operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)	Ceylon Government Railway
Route
Termini	Colombo Fort railway station
Stops	Badulla railway station
Distance travelled	290 km (180 mi)
Average journey time	10–12 hours
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	1015 (Colombo Fort-Badulla) 1016 (Badulla-Colombo Fort)
On-board services
Sleeping arrangements	Not available
Observation facilities	N
Technical
Track gauge	5 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

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., 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

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.

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

Route

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.

Rolling stock

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

See also

• Sri Lanka Railways
• List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka

External links

• Great Railway Journeys of the World: Colombo to Badulla on the Udarata Menike Express (or: Why do you need to buy a newspaper before travelling on this train?), by Gyan C. A. Fernando,
• ASTRA Passenger Coaches