Ruhunu Kumari

Ruhunu Kumari (Sinhala: රුහුණු කුමාරි, Princess of "Ruhuna" - southern province) (Tamil: உருகுண இளவரசி) is a daytime passenger train that runs between Colombo and Matara in Sri Lanka.

Ruhunu Kumari

Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Locale	Sri Lanka
Current operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Route
Start	Matara
End	Maradana
Train number(s)	8058 & 8059[1]
Technical
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Route map Coastal Line Beliatta Wavurukannala Babarenda Kekanadura Weherahena Nilwala Ganga Piladuwa Matara Walgama Kamburugamuwa Mirissa Polwathumodara Polwatta Ganga Weligama Kubalgama Midigama Ahangama Kathaluwa Koggala Ganga Koggala Habaraduwa Talpe Unawatuna Katugoda Galle Richmond Hill Kepu ela Piyadigama Ginthota Gin Ganga Boossa Rajgama Dodanduwa Rathgama Lake Kumarakannda Thiranagama Hikkaduwa Telwatta Kahawa Akurala Madampagama Madampe Lake Ambalangoda Kandegoda Balapitiya Ahungalla Kosgoda Maha Induruwa Induruwa Bentota Benthota Ganga Aluthgama Hettimulla Beruwala Maggona Paiyagala South Paiyagala North Katukurunda Kalutara South Kalu Ganga Kalutara North Train Halt No 01 Wadduwa Pinwatta Panadura Bolgoda Lake Egoda Uyana Koralawalla Moratuwa Lunawa Angulana Ratmalana & Running Shed Mount Lavinia Dehiwala Dehiwala Canal Wellawatta Kirillapone Chanal Bambalapitiya Kollupitiya Beira Lake Slave Island (Kompanna Vidiya) Beira Lake Secretariat Halt The Canal Colombo Fort St. Sebastian Canal Maradana Kelani Valley railway line Main Line

The Matara-bound train departs from Colombo at 3.50 p.m., while the Colombo-bound train leaves Matara at 6.05 a.m. The trip takes about 2.45 hours.

Services

The train offers two classes

• Second class is more comfortable than the third class.
• Third class typically gets very crowded with commuters, And provide only the basic facilities.

Route

The Ruhunu Kumari travels the length of Sri Lanka Railways' Coastal Line through the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, from Colombo-Fort to Matara.

The Ruhunu Kumari begins her southbound journey at Maradana station and goes to Fort Railway Station, the primary railway station in Colombo. Then she passes stations at Slave Island, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, and Wellawattha, all situated within Colombo city. Then she passes the rapidly growing cities of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, and Moratuwa.

As she enters Kalutara district, passing the Colombo district, Egoda Uyana, Panadura, Pinwattha and Wadduwa are the foremost stations. The train calls at both of Kalutara's stations, Kalutara north and Kalutara south. Next the Ruhunu Kumari passes Katukurunda, the site of Sri Lanka's first railway accident. Payagala north and Payagala south which are the stations of Payagala city are also situated in this line. After Maggona, Beruwala, Hettimulla and Aluthgama stations Ruhunu Kumari enters the Galle district. Bentota, a very popular tourist destination, is the first station situated in Galle district on this line. Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Kahawa, Hikkaduwa, Dodanduwa, Rajgama, Boossa, Gintota are the main stations situated before Galle. Next the Ruhunu Kumari arrives at Galle station.

Next, the Ruhunu Kumari starts her journey on the Galle-Matara line. The train has to back out of Galle station, due to its terminal-station layout. Katugoda is the first station on the line towards Matara. Unawatuna, Talpe, Habaraduwa, Koggala, Kataluwa and Ahangama are the last stations in Galle district. Midigama, Kumbalgama, Weligama are the foremost stations in the Matara. Polwathumodara, Mirissa, Kamburugamuwa, and Walgama are the next stations. Finally Ruhunu Kumari has come to her destination: Matara.

References

1. "Sri Lanka Railways Timetable". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012.

External links

• "The Three Wonderful Sisters (Then and now)". Sunday Observer. May 7, 2006.
• Ellis, Royston (May 2011) [2002]. "Train Timetable". Sri Lanka (fourth ed.). England: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-84162346-7.