🚆 Kandy to Ella train is not running: how to get there in 2026

The most scenic section of Sri Lanka's mountain railway is back in service, but the through train from Kandy to Ella has still not returned. Cyclone Diwat in late November 2025 washed out the tracks between Kandy and Nanu Oya, and there is still no service on that segment (Sri Lanka Railways).

You won't have to give up the trip. Just drive to Nanu Oya and board the train there: from that point you'll pass the same tea hills, Haputale, and the Nine Arch Bridge. Below we'll break down what the route looks like in 2026, how much a ticket costs, and which side to sit on.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

What's happening with the Kandy-Ella train now

The section between Kandy and Nanu Oya has been closed since late November 2025. Cyclone Diwat left more than 159 landslides and 95 washouts across the rail network, and the mountain lines near Kandy, Badulla, and Matale were hit hardest (carrier's official website, The Morning).

Service has already resumed further south. Since June 20, 2026, trains have been running again from Nanu Oya to Badulla, meaning through Haputale, Demodara, and the Nine Arch Bridge (News 1st, OnLanka).

One gap remains between Kandy and Nanu Oya, and it will be closed for a long time. The carrier calls full restoration of the line a goal for late 2026 or early 2027, but no one can give you an exact date yet (Ceylon Now).

💡 In short:

The through Kandy-Ella train has not run since November 2025: the section up to Nanu Oya is being repaired after the cyclone.
Trains from Nanu Oya to Badulla and Ella have been operating since June 20, 2026.
You get to Nanu Oya by road; from Kandy it's about 3 hours by car.
Tickets and schedule: 09/2026, checked on the official website of Sri Lanka Railways.

How to get from Kandy to Ella in 2026

There is no direct train, so the route is made up of two parts: a road trip to the mountain section and a train ride along it. From Kandy to Nanu Oya takes about 3 hours, from Colombo about 5 hours, and from the airport about 5.5 hours (Ceylon Now guide).

Segment	How to travel	Travel time
Kandy → Nanu Oya	car, van, or bus	about 3 hours
Nanu Oya → Ella	train	about 2 hours
Colombo → Nanu Oya	car via expressway	about 5 hours

The drop-off point depends on your plans. Nanu Oya is convenient for Nuwara Eliya: tuk-tuk drivers will take you from the station to the town. Ambewela sits higher up the slope and suits those traveling from Kandy without stopping in Nuwara Eliya.

Train schedule for the operating section

Train	Departure from Nanu Oya	Arrival in Ella	Runs
1005 Calypso Special	09:30	11:25	daily
1015	15:00	16:55	daily, except Wednesday

Times and train composition change because the line is being opened in sections. Check the current schedule before your trip on the operator's website.

What the Kandy to Ella route was like before the closure

Everything below describes the full line as it operated before November 2025. This is not history for its own sake: the section will reopen, and the travel rules will remain the same. Recheck times and prices before your trip.

Rolling green landscape with forest and a Sri Lankan village

The train runs from Kandy to Ella through tea fields and jungle, climbing higher into the mountains of Sri Lanka. According to the schedule, the journey took 6.5 hours, but in reality it took 8 to 10 hours. The whole time you could sit in an open doorway and watch waterfalls and tea plantations.

Train passing through tea plantations in the mountains

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

The hill line is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and its fame comes precisely from the open train doors. Below we break down the differences between trains, classes, and seats.

Which train to choose and when to go

Take the morning train. In Sri Lanka schedules are followed only approximately, and an afternoon train can easily arrive in Ella after dark, and you lose the main thing: the views. An early train leaves you daylight for the entire journey.

Train at the platform of Nanu Oya station

Before the line closed, trains left Kandy three times a day: at 8:46, 11:03, and 12:25. The morning train at 8:46 was the most convenient because it arrived in Ella before dark.

The 12:25 train carried the Observation Class, a separate tourist carriage with a large panoramic window at the rear. It offers more comfort, but the local trains give you that authentic open-door experience.

The difference between carriages is not speed, but what you see from the window and where you sit. More on that below.

Tickets: online or at the station

Tickets are sold online and at the station ticket office. Online booking opens 33 days in advance, and in high season first and second class seats sell out quickly, so it is better to decide early.

Nanu Oya railway station building, Sri Lanka

The station ticket office is cheaper, but first and second class are often already sold out by the time of sale. If you are planning late, buying on the spot remains the only option. You can conveniently check train tickets in advance through a train booking service.

How much a train ticket costs

Before the line closed, an online ticket cost €15 in third class, €16 in second, and €19 in first. If you buy at the station, a third class ticket cost around €3, or about 1,000 rupees per ticket (Rome2rio).

The difference between the ticket office and the online service explains exactly why you would go to the station once the line reopens.

Class	Online (fares)	On site	Feature
1st class	19 €	often sold out	Air conditioning, doors closed
2nd class	16 €	often sold out	Open doors, more space
3rd class	15 €	about 3 €	Open doors, more cramped
Observation Class	about 25 €	not sold	Panoramic window at the rear

First class is quieter and cooler, but because of the air conditioning the windows and doors are closed. Second class is considered the sweet spot: more space than third, and the doors and windows are open.

Third class is more cramped, but it is the cheapest and the liveliest. If first and second are already sold out, a ride in third will still leave a strong impression.

Where to sit on the train

A seat by the door matters more than the class. These seats are popular, and you need to grab them in the very first minute after boarding.

This tip will come in handy when the section from Kandy opens. From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, sit on the right side. At first there are more people on this side and the views are more modest, but later the highlands open up and passengers hardly ever get on. Before Nuwara Eliya, move to the left side.

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

Safety matters more than the view. Do not lean too far out of the door and watch for branches along the way: this is how tourists most often get injured.

How long the trip takes and what about food

According to the schedule, the trip took 6.5 hours, but in Sri Lanka you should not count on that timing. Allow 8 to 10 hours and do not book a tight connection.

You will not go hungry. Vendors constantly walk through the cars selling local snacks, and this is the best way to try the cuisine without a restaurant. But it is better to bring a snack with you: stops can be unevenly spaced.

Take water and something light for the road. The views still look better on a full stomach.

Important: mountain cars have no luggage compartment, and the racks are designed for a small bag. With a large suitcase, getting into a packed car becomes an ordeal in itself.

Stops along the way and what to see

The line is easy to divide into stages. Peradeniya is right after Kandy: it has one of the country's most beautiful botanical gardens, and half a day is enough for it before the ride to Nanu Oya.

Nuwara Eliya lies high in the mountains. If you have time, stay for one or two days to walk through the tea plantations. You need to get off at Nanu Oya: tuk-tuk drivers are already waiting for you at the station.

Haputale is less touristy than Ella, and the mountain views are the same. If you want quiet and an empty platform, this is where you stop.

Further from Nuwara Eliya, the train passes Demodara and the Nine Arch Bridge. Most people get off in Ella, but if you have time to spare you can get off earlier.

What awaits you in Ella

In Ella you will find viewpoints, the Nine Arch Bridge, and good trekking routes. From here most travelers continue on to the south coast, to Mirissa or Unawatuna, and hotels in high season are best booked in advance (hotel prices in Ella).

Nine Arch Bridge in Ella surrounded by jungle

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Is the train from Kandy to Ella running now?

No. Through service has been closed since November 2025: the section between Kandy and Nanu Oya is being repaired after Cyclone Diwat. The segment from Nanu Oya to Badulla is operating, having reopened on June 20, 2026. You need to get to Nanu Oya by road and board the train there.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Yes, if you want first or second class. Third class can almost always be bought at the station on the day of travel.

Which class should I choose?

Second. It has more space than third, and the windows and doors are open.

Which side should I sit on?

This tip will come in handy once the line fully reopens. From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya sit on the right, after Nuwara Eliya on the left. In the opposite direction, switch sides.

How long does the journey actually take?

According to the schedule, 6.5 hours; in reality, more often 8 to 10 hours.

What should I do with a large suitcase?

Mountain carriages have no luggage compartment, and the racks are designed for a small bag. Leave your suitcase at the hotel or send it to Ella by road, and take a backpack with you.

In short: what to book

Plan your trip in two steps: first the road to Nanu Oya, then the train along the mountain section. If you have one day, leave Kandy early and board the morning train at Nanu Oya. If you have three days, add Nuwara Eliya and Haputale.

For tours and activities in Ella, check GetYourGuide, and for train tickets across the country, look at Trip.com.

Sri Lanka's hill train runs again from Nanu Oya to Ella