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 type	Intercity Express Train
Status	In service
Locale	Sri Lanka
Current operator(s)	Sri Lanka Railways
Former operator(s)	Ceylon Government Railway
Route
Start	Colombo Fort
End	Kankesanturai
Distance travelled	410 km [1]
Average journey time	7 Hours
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	4017 (Colombo Fort-Kankesanthurai) 4018 (Kankesanthurai-Colombo Fort)[2]
Technical
Track gauge	5 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 Batticaloa Line to Batticaloa 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

• Sri Lanka Railways
• List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka

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".

External links

• Uthuru Mithuru: Rebuilding the Yal Devi Friendship Track