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Scenic train route comparator
The Kandy-Ella line is iconic — but four trains a day, five seat classes, and the 30-day booking window make it confusing. Pick a route below, see times, classes, prices and where to sit.
Booking strategy
- Reserved seats open 30 days before departure at midnight Colombo time. Set an alarm if you want 1st Observation.
- Book via Sri Lanka Railways e-services or any GetYourGuide reseller (we list 14 train experiences in our catalog).
- Unreserved 2nd / 3rd is cheap (LKR 100-250) and almost always available — but no guaranteed seat.
- Train delays of 30-90 minutes are normal. Don't book a same-day flight after the train.
Where to sit
- Kandy → Ella: right side after Hatton, for the valleys.
- Ella → Kandy: left side from Ella.
- Colombo → Galle: right side, ocean side.
For a deep-dive on each train and its photo spots, see our scenic trains guides.