Nanu Oya Intercity Express targets tourists
Nanu Oya Intercity Express
The Ceylon Government Railway (CGR) last week launched a new express train to Nanuoya, one of the main railway towns upcountry, targeting to attract local and foreign tourists.
Nanuoya is the closest railway station to the Nuwara Eliya town, which is about 10 kilometres (six miles) away. The new intercity express train provides a comfortable and fast service to passengers.
The train with 264 second class seats starts its journey at 8.30 a.m from the Colombo Fort railway station and stops at Peradeniya, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Hatton, Thalawakele and Nanuoya.
The train reaches Nanuoya at 1.30 pm after a five-hour journey and starts its return journey at 3.15 pm. Travellers can enjoy the picturesque scenery in the hill country while travelling in the observation deck (first class) which can accommodate 24 passengers.
According to CGR sources there has been a big demand from the second day and all seats were reserved over the weekend.
The president of the Nuwara Eliya Hotel’s Association, T. G. Mahinda who welcomed the first train at the Nanuoya railway station said that the Association is ready to work closely with the CGR to promote tourism in the district.
The Association sponsored to colour wash the railway station recently and Mahinda called upon the local authorities and other stakeholders to refurbish the station by providing facilities for travellers.
The Association has set up a tourist information centre at the railway station to guide travellers to tourist destinations in Nuwara Eliya.
CGR General Manager, Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said that rail transport is the most secure, convenient and most economical transport mode in the country. An express train running upcountry targeting travellers is a long-felt need.
The only factor that could sustain this train service is to attract commuters. The operation cost of the train is Rs. 1,500/km and we have to cover this cost, he said.
When the Sripada season begins next week there will be a big demand for this service. This will be the most convenient transport mode for the Sripada pilgrims, Dr. Gunaruwan said.
The CGR has added new train services on the upcountry railway line. The Kandy-Colombo train service was extended to Matale from last week. A new platform has been constructed at the Peradeniya railway station facilitating Badulla-Colombo bound trains to stop at Peradeniya. Earlier, trains running on the Badulla-Colombo railway line did not stop at Peradeniya or had to reverse at the Peradeniya station.
The CGR has developed infrastructure in the Kandy, Kadugannawa and Nawalapitiya railway triangle including the installation of a modern signal system, to provide an efficient train service among the three towns.
By Gamini WARUSHAMANA
Source: The Sunday Observer
Tags: colombo, commuters, express train, infrastructure, intercity express, nanu oya, nuwara eliya, observation saloon, passenger transport, passengers, picturesque scenery, railway station, tourist destinations, tourist information centre, upcountry
December 9th, 2008 at 10:16 am
send the nanuoya intercity at 8.00a.m from colombo so that it can go to nanuoya early from nanuoya send it around2.30pm to reach colombo at around 8.00pm the actucally now should arrive at 8.55pm but it gets late comes around 9.15 to9.30pm its too late please try to do something about it. try to make the train arrive before 8.15pm
December 9th, 2008 at 10:24 am
.thanks for the new intercity its a very fast/comfortable train. but people like to go home early.i think its better to reajuset time
it wil be good for all pasengers as well as CGR they can sell more tickets
if possible put 44 seats OBV
May 4th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
i m frm nanu oya, so realy thanks to nanu oya express train , i thanks to Mr.dalas alagaperuma transport ministar, it’s very fast and good confartable
May 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
nanu oya intercity is very comfertable it is remarkable it reaches peradinya in just two hours from colombo
May 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
First i want to say why this intercity train having problems at all…. I brought a ticket to nanu oya to colombo for 13 Wednesday. I went to the nanu oya station at 2:55 pm and i didn’t asked from anyone coz i thought the train was delayed. So, I just seated one of the bench and stayed couple of times but no train came from colombo and it was 3:40 pm so.I went and asked from the ticket counter and they said that the train was canceled due to the engine problem….. I don’t know why they replace a new engine and continue the journey that day to nanu oya…. they simply canceled and there was no train at that time to colombo also podi manike was gone and i cant go nuwaraeliya ether and i hate to travel by bus. I took a ticket to Bandarawela and i went there and brought a sleeper ticket for night mail and came to colombo next day morning… It was like night mare for me….. My questons are these…
1 . Why they cant announced or write on the board.
2 . Why they cant replace a new engine and continue the journey.
3 . Didn’t they know there is was no train after podi manike…
Why railway people doing these things for there own purpose .
I will never ever buy a colombo-nanu oya-colombo intercity train ticket again. If you guys check my comment please report this to high authorities.
I think this train is the most bad train ever.. if they cant handle this train they must stop the train.. I never seen the kandy intercity train cancel.
PLEASE REPORT THIS………………………………..
May 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
nanu oya intercity get late to come every day. it is good comfortable train but it gets late everyday. try to send the train at 5.55am come back around 2.00pm from nanu oya. the train that goes at 5.55 is not comfortable and you cannot book 2nd class tickects early. if you put intercity at 5.55am from colombo we can go home early people can be in nanu oya at 11.30am.no need of podi menike during weekdays it can go only on week ends where there is a lot of crowd.try to send nanu oya intercity at podi menike time.
PLEASE REPORT THIS
May 26th, 2009 at 11:14 am
nanu oya intercity does not run on week days it is a problem may be it is good to put nanu oya intercity at 5.55 am on week days. and podi menike around 7.30am to 8.30am. if you put intercity at 5.55am on week days there will be a crowd please some send the nanu oya intercity on week days specially on fridays and mondays
please report this to railway
May 27th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
yes thats good send nanu oya intercity at 5.55am daily so that it can reach nanuoya around 11.30am and return around 1.30pm to reach colombo before 8.00pm try to ajust podi menike time. early in the morning is the best time to send the intercity like other kandy / vavniya.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
podi menike is very a bad train. either imporve it or put nanu oya intercity on every day at podi menike time. podi menike train has very bad toilets smeiling dirty podi menike and udrata menike lokk like train taking animals it is good for animals