Uttara Devi

Uttara Devi (Sinhala: උත්තර දේවී, Princess/Queen of the North Tamil: உத்தர தேவி) is an Intercity Express train that runs between Colombo, the nation's commercial hub, with the northern cities of Jaffna and Kankesanturai.

Uttara Devi උත්තර දේවි உத்தர தேவி
Uttara Devi intercity express train at Kurunegala railway station, hauled by a S13 DMU
Overview
Service typeIntercity Express Train
StatusIn service
LocaleSri Lanka
Current operator(s)Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)Ceylon Government Railway
Route
StartColombo Fort
EndKankesanturai
Distance travelled410 km [1]
Average journey time7 Hours
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)4017 (Colombo Fort-Kankesanthurai)
4018 (Kankesanthurai-Colombo Fort)[2]
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Route map
Northern Line
Kankesanthurai
Maviddapuram
Tellippalai
Mallakam
Chunnakam
Inuvil
Kondavil
Kokuvil
Jaffna
Punkankulam
Uppu Aru Lagoon
Navatkuly
Thachanthoppu
Chavakachcheri
Sankathanai
Meesalai
Kodikamam
Mirusuvil
Eluthumadduval
Pallai
Elephant Pass
Chundikkulam Lagoon
Paranthan
Kilinochchi
Murukandy Temple
Murukandy
Mankulam
Puliyankulam
Omanthai
Thandikulam
Vavuniya
Iratperiyakulam
Punewa
Mannar Line to Talaimannar
Medawachchiya Junction
Medawachchiya
Medagama
Parasangahawewa
Saliyapura
Mihintale
Branch Line to Mihintale
Mihintale Junction
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura New Town
Malvathu River
Sravasthipura
Talawa
Thambuttegama
Senarathgama
Galgamuwa
Ambanpola
Randenigama
Maho
Maho Junction
Thimbiriyagedara
Nagollagama
Hiriyala
Ganewatta
Deduru Oya
Wellawa
Mutttettugalla
Kurunegala
Nailiya
Pothuhera
Thallawattegedara
Girambe
Main Line to Badulla
Polgahawela Junction
Main Line to Colombo Fort

History

The Uttara Devi train was introduced as Deyata Kirula on 11 September 2011. Then its name was changed to Uttara Devi in mid-2015.

Services

The Uttara Devi offers three classes of travel.[3]

  • 1st class offers Air conditioning and charging facilities.
  • 2nd class.
  • 3rd class typically gets very crowded and carries only basic facilities.

Route

The train begins its northbound journey at Colombo Fort. It stops only at Gampaha, then reaches Polgahawela, the train branches off the Main Line, moving towards Kankesanturai, following Northern Line. It passes Kurunegala, the capital of North Western Province, and Maho, before continuing to the historic cultural and religious center of Anuradhapura, the island's ancient capital around the 4th century BCE and home to many sites of religious and archaeological interest. The train continues towards Jaffna, passing Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Palai and Kodikamamam. Jaffna is the main cultural centre of the north of Sri Lanka. From here, the Northern Line extended to Kankesanturai, a port city. From Jaffna to Kankesanturai, Uttara Devi stops at every station.[2]

Rolling Stock

Uttara Devi Train at Kurunegala Railway Station, when it was operated by a S11 DMU, in 2017

The service was run by S11 DMU, but was replaced by the new S13 sets in January 2019.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. "Rail Road Distance in Sri Lanka". podimenike.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "Train Schedule North". dialog.lk. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. "JAFFNA to COLOMBO FORT Time". Jaffna Visit. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  4. "seat61.com".
  5. "SL Railway Forum".
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