Trincomalee line

Trincomalee line
Overview
StatusFunctioning
OwnerSri Lanka Railways
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeRegional rail
SystemSri Lanka Railways
Operator(s)Sri Lanka Railways
History
Opened1927; 97 years ago (1927)
Technical
Line length70 km (43 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNo
Route map
Trincomalee
China Bay
Thampalakamam
Mullipothanai
Ganthalawa
Kanthalai
Agbopura
Aluth Oya
Batticaloa Line to Batticaloa
Gal Oya Junction
Batticaloa Line to Colombo Fort

The Trincomalee line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Batticaloa line at Gal Oya Junction, the line heads north-east through North Central and Eastern provinces before terminating at the eastern city of Trincomalee. The line is 70 kilometres (43 mi) long and has nine stations.[1] The line opened in 1927.[2] The rail line was originally called the Batticaloa-Trincomalee Light Railway, as only locomotives with light axle loads were permitted. The circuitous route led to some rail employees wondering if the construction costs were paid on a mileage basis, with a manager stating "it followed the path of an intelligent cow". In the 1950s the route was deviated removing a number of sharp curves and steep gradients together with a switch to heavier rails to match the rest of the country's rail system.

References

  1. ^ "Statistics – Sri Lanka Railways". Ministry of Transport, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28.
  2. ^ "The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka". Infolanka.com.