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Trust me when I say, traveling on the train when you’re in Sri Lanka is a must have experience. Did you know that train to Hill country is considered one of the most scenic train journeys in Asia? Don’t take my word for it check out this awesome article on The Culture Trip.
Though, I’m not going to talk about that scenic train journey here…
Instead, I’m going to disclose all you need to know about travelling to Kalutara from Colombo and vice versa.
Index
Which Station?
First of all, to avoid confusion, Kalutara has two railway stations. The main station is Kalutara South station and the lesser used other is Kalutara North station.
Kalutara South Railway Station
Distance to Colombo: 41 Km
Time to reach Colombo: 01.00 hours by an express train, 01.30 hours by a slow train
Ticket Prices: 2nd Class LKR 80.00, 3rd Class LKR 40.00
Contact No: 034-2222271
Previous Station: Kalutara North
Next Station: Katukurunda
Located in the heart of the city, Kalutara South station is where all the awesome train journeys begin. And when you hear “Kalutara railway station” people usually mean this one.
All long-distance express trains running on the coastal railway line stop here. Slow ones too. You can get there by following the road just next to the bus stand or there is a shortcut to the right just past Kalutara Bodhiya lower terrace.
You can take trains to Aluthgama, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Matara and even to Kandy and Anuradhapura from this station. It’s recommended to use an express train to get to Colombo even though it’s not that far.
Basic facilities like a canteen, washroom are available at the station. It is located right next to the lagoon and you can observe the point where Kalu River meets the ocean from there. (Kalu River estuary)
Did you know? The first head-on collision in Sri Lanka took place between Kalutara and Katukurunda stations in 1928.
Kalutara North Railway Station
Distance from Colombo: 39 Km
Time to reach Colombo: 01.15 Hours by a slow train
Ticket Prices: 2nd Class 70.00, 3rd Class 40.00
Contact No: 034-2232272
Previous Station: Train Halt No 01 ( Yes, That’s an actual station 😉 )
Next Station: Kalutara South
This sleepy station is located just 2.5 Km to north from the town, this station is pretty low key compared to its counterpart. All slow trains stop here and It’s Fine If you’re just looking to get ahead to Colombo or nearby main stations like Aluthgama.
But keep in mind that only two long-distance express trains stop here, so be sure to check the train schedule online. If you’re staying in Waskaduwa or Wadduwa better to get off from here and take a tuk-tuk or call ahead your hotel to pick you from here.
Please note that these stations can be quite crowded in the early mornings and evenings of weekday since the train is the popular choice for the locals to commute to work. Trains can be in utter chaos at this time.
Not to worry, our trains would never be this crowded.
Reservations
For some reason unknown to us, Reservations are not available for trains running on the coastal railway line. Hence getting a seat, unfortunately, is not guaranteed.
Colombo to Kalutara train timetable
Kalutara South
| Departure from Colombo |
Arrival at Kalutara South | Destination | Frequency | Name | Type |
| 5:42:00 | 07:15:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 6:10:00 | 06:51:00 | Matara | Sunday only | Express Train | |
| 6:55:00 | 07:58:00 | Matara | Daily | Express Train | |
| 8:35:00 | 09:33:00 | Matara | Daily | Express Train | |
| 8:45:00 | 10:01:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 9:40:00 | 11:17:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 10:30:00 | 11:27:00 | Matara  | Daily | Rajarata Rajini | Slow |
| 11:15:00 | 12:33:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 12:10:00 | 13:39:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 12:35:00 | 13:54:00 | Kalutara South | Saturday and Sunday | Slow | |
| 14:06:00 | 15:23:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 14:25:00 | 15:17:00 | Matara | Daily | Galu Kumari | Slow |
| 15:50:00 | 16:31:00 | Matara | Daily | Ruhunu Kumari | Express Train |
| 16:16:00 | 17:15:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 16:20:00 | 17:39:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 16:30:00 | 17:17:00 | Matara | Sunday only | Express Train | |
| 16:45:00 | 17:39:00 | Hikkaduwa | Sunday only | Slow | |
| 16:46:00 | 17:42:00 | Matara | Weekdays Only | Sagarika | Slow |
| 16:50:00 | 18:34:00 | Aluthgama | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 16:50:00 | 18:07:00 | Aluthgama | Saturday and Sunday | Slow | |
| 17:25:00 | 18:17:00 | Galle | Saturday and Sunday | Sagarika | Express Train |
| 17:30:00 | 18:19:00 | Galle | Weekdays Only | Samudra Devi | Express Train |
| 17:45:00 | 19:03:00 | Aluthgama | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 17:55:00 | 19:14:00 | Galle | Saturday and Sunday | Slow | |
| 18:05:00 | 19:05:00 | Matara | Weekdays Only | Express Train | |
| 18:15:00 | 19:34:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 18:35:00 | 20:08:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 19:10:00 | 20:20:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Express Train | |
| 19:30:00 | 20:36:00 | Galle | Daily | Night Mail | Night Mail Train |
| 19:50:00 | 21:07:00 | Aluthgama | Weekdays & Sunday | Slow | |
| 20:40:00 | 21:57:00 | Kalutara South | Sunday only | Slow | |
| 21:35:00 | 22:52:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
Kalutara North
| Departure time from Colombo |
Arrival at Kalutara North | Destination | Frequency | Name | Type |
| 5:42:00 | 06:55:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 6:55:00 | 07:54:00 | Matara | Daily | Express Train | |
| 8:45:00 | 09:56:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 9:40:00 | 11:12:00 | Kalutara South | Daily | Slow | |
| 11:15:00 | 12:28:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 12:10:00 | 13:24:00 | Kalutara South | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 14:06:00 | 15:18:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 16:16:00 | 17:11:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 16:20:00 | 17:34:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 16:50:00 | 17:58:00 | Aluthgama | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 17:35:00 | 18:49:00 | Galle | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 17:45:00 | 18:58:00 | Aluthgama | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 18:15:00 | 19:29:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 18:35:00 | 20:03:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 19:30:00 | 20:31:00 | Galle | Daily | Night Mail | Night Mail Train |
| 19:10:00 | 20:15:00 | Kalutara South | Weekdays Only | Express Train | |
| 19:50:00 | 21:02:00 | Aluthgama | Monday To Friday & Sunday | Slow | |
| 20:40:00 | 21:52:00 | Payagala South | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 21:35:00 | 22:47:00 | Aluthgama | Daily | Slow | |
| 12:35:00 | 13:49:00 | Kalutara South | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 16:50:00 | 18:02:00 | Aluthgama | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 17:55:00 | 19:09:00 | Galle | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 20:40:00 | 21:52:00 | Kalutara South | Sunday Only | Slow | |
Travelling from Colombo? A quick heads up — Every train that runs on the coastal line starts from Maradana Railway station which is the one before the Colombo Fort Railway station. So there is a higher chance that you can get a seat from there. Even though I’ve included starting time from Colombo, starting time from Maradana is just 05 minutes before that.
In both of these stations, trains to the west coast and down south usually come to platform Number 5 or 6.
Kalutara to Colombo train timetable
From Kalutara South
| Departure time from Kalutara South |
Arrival at Colombo | Destination | Frequency | Name | Type |
| 3:53:00 | 05:10:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Slow | |
| 4:23:00 | 05:40:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Slow | |
| 5:13:00 | 06:32:00 | Maradana | Sunday Only | Slow | |
| 6:02:00 | 07:33:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 6:16:00 | 07:36:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Express Train | |
| 6:52:00 | 07:55:00 | Maradana | Sundays And Holidays | Samudra Devi | Long Distance |
| 7:20:00 | 08:37:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 7:58:00 | 08:43:00 | Maradana | Daily | Ruhunu Kumari | Express Train |
| 8:36:00 | 09:32:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday & Sunday | Galu Kumari | Long Distance |
| 10:04:00 | 10:54:00 | Maradana | Sunday Only | Slow | |
| 10:45:00 | 12:04:00 | Maradana | Daily | Slow | |
| 12:17:00 | 13:15:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Rajarata Rejina | Express Train |
| 12:20:00 | 14:08:00 | Maradana | Daily | Mixed Trains | |
| 14:05:00 | 15:22:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 14:23:00 | 15:40:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 15:01:00 | 15:58:00 | Maradana | Sunday Only | Slow | |
| 16:05:00 | 17:14:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Slow | |
| 17:08:00 | 18:26:00 | Colombo Fort | Saturday And Sunday | Slow | |
| 17:02:00 | 18:05:00 | Maradana | Daily | Slow | |
| 17:57:00 | 18:40:00 | Maradana | Saturday & Sunday |
Express Train | |
| 5:03:00 | 06:22:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays and Saturday | Slow | |
| 5:34:00 | 06:51:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Night Mail | Night Mail Train |
| 5:57:00 | 07:22:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 6:16:00 | 07:40:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Long Distance | |
| 6:38:00 | 08:02:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 6:46:00 | 07:45:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 6:50:00 | 07:48:00 | Maradana | Weekdays and Saturday | Samudra Devi | Express Train |
| 7:00:00 | 08:04:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 7:12:00 | 08:17:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Sagarika | Express Train |
| 7:20:00 | 08:33:00 | Colombo Fort | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 8:05:00 | 09:24:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 8:36:00 | 09:32:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday & Sunday | Galu Kumari | Long Distance |
| 11:56:00 | 13:03:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays and Saturday | Mixed Trains | |
| 13:40:00 | 14:56:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 14:23:00 | 15:36:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 17:20:00 | 18:33:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 17:30:00 | 18:36:00 | Colombo Fort | Monday To Friday | Slow | |
| 17:45:00 | 18:52:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
| 22:23:00 | 23:16:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Slow | |
From Kalutara North
| Departure time from Kalutara North |
Arrival at Colombo Fort | Destination | Frequency | Type |
| 3:58:00 | 05:10:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Slow |
| 4:28:00 | 05:40:00 | Colombo Fort | Daily | Slow |
| 5:18:00 | 06:32:00 | Maradana | Sunday Only | Slow |
| 6:07:00 | 07:33:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow |
| 6:21:00 | 07:36:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Express Train |
| 6:57:00 | 07:55:00 | Maradana | Sundays And Holidays | Express Train |
| 7:25:00 | 08:37:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow |
| 10:50:00 | 12:04:00 | Maradana | Daily | Slow |
| 12:25:00 | 14:08:00 | Maradana | Daily | Slow |
| 14:10:00 | 15:22:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow |
| 14:28:00 | 15:40:00 | Maradana | Saturday And Sunday | Slow |
| 17:13:00 | 18:26:00 | Colombo Fort | Saturday And Sunday | Slow |
| 5:08:00 | 06:22:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays and Saturday | Slow |
| 5:39:00 | 06:51:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Night Mail Train |
| 6:02:00 | 07:22:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow |
| 6:21:00 | 07:40:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Express Train |
| 6:43:00 | 08:02:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow |
| 7:04:00 | 08:04:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays Only | Slow |
| 7:25:00 | 08:33:00 | Colombo Fort | Monday To Friday | Slow |
| 8:10:00 | 09:24:00 | Maradana | Monday To Friday | Slow |
| 13:45:00 | 14:56:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Slow |
| 14:28:00 | 15:36:00 | Maradana | Weekdays Only | Slow |
| 17:25:00 | 18:33:00 | Colombo Fort | Weekdays Only | Slow |
| 17:35:00 | 18:36:00 | Colombo Fort | Monday To Friday | Slow |
Conclusion
We hope that you obtained the information you’re looking for adequately, and If you need more information and clarifications feel free to drop a comment below. It doesn’t matter your query is not related to Kalutara or not, we are happy to help. Wishing you happy journeys in Sri Lanka.
Further Reference
Sri Lanka Railway Official Site ( http://www.railway.gov.lk/web/ )
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