Sri Lanka Railways IE 1 Intercity Express from Colombo Fort to Kandy covers 116 km in approximately 2h20m through the Hill Country, climbing through rubber and tea plantations on one of Asia's most scenic rail journeys. Kandy is home to the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple of the Buddha (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Sri Lanka's most venerated shrine.
| # | Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Colombo Fort Station Colombo |
| Start |
| 07:00 |
| 2 | Kandy Station Kandy | 09:25 | End |
Timetable data is sourced from official Sri Lanka railways records and may vary due to delays or seasonal changes. Always verify with the official operator before travelling.
Sri Lanka Railways IE 1 Intercity Express from Colombo Fort to Kandy covers 116 km in approximately 2h20m through the Hill Country, climbing through rubber and tea plantations on one of Asia's most scenic rail journeys. Kandy is home to the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple of the Buddha (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Sri Lanka's most venerated shrine. As a express train, it is a scheduled express service running on a fixed timetable across multiple states or regions.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy runs on every day of the week, with the timetable above showing the scheduled departure time at each intermediate stop. The full route includes 2 stops with a total scheduled time of 2h 25m, averaging out to approximately 120 minutes between consecutive stations once dwell time is taken into account.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy offers 2 travel classes: 2nd Class, 1st Class AC. The lowest published fare is LKR 350 for 2nd Class, while the highest-class fare is LKR 850 for 1st Class AC. Higher-class fares typically include wider seating, better climate control, and on many long-distance services include meals or refreshments. Travel class fare differences also reflect coach configuration — for example sleeper berths convert to flat beds for overnight travel, while seated coach classes use forward-facing reclining seats arranged 2+2 or 2+1 across the aisle. Check the per-class fare table on this page for the current published price by class.
Tickets for Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy are sold by Sri Lanka Railways through the official booking portal at railway.gov.lk. Online booking typically opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on the operator and service type. Booking early gives access to the cheapest advance discount fares which can be 30–80% cheaper than walk-up tickets at the station. Tickets are also available at station booking offices and from authorised travel agents and ticket resellers. Most operators accept payment by credit card, debit card, and digital wallet.
On the day of travel, arrive at the originating station at least 30–45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This gives time to locate the correct platform (platform number is announced on station information displays 20–60 minutes before departure), find your reserved coach (coach numbers are marked along the platform edge at major stations), and board with your luggage. Always cross-check the platform number against your e-ticket or seat reservation before boarding — multiple trains can depart within a short window from adjacent platforms during peak periods.
This Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy page is part of the TrainsTracking Sri Lanka timetable collection covering passenger rail services across the Sri Lanka Railways network. Schedule data is verified daily against the official operator timetable, and fare information reflects the most recent published tariff. TrainsTracking is an information platform and does not process bookings or payments — all ticket purchases are completed directly through railway.gov.lk. For real-time delay information, platform changes, and same-day cancellations, always check station displays or the official operator app immediately before travel.
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Book Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy tickets at railway.gov.lk, the official Sri Lanka Railways portal. Compare fares and seat availability before booking. Online booking typically opens 30 to 90 days before departure.
Book NowVisit any Sri Lanka Railways booking office in person. Staff can help with seat selection, group bookings, and special assistance. Book early for popular departure times and holidays.
Contact Sri Lanka Railways for schedule information, delay updates, and booking assistance via their official website or station helpdesk.
Visit Sri Lanka RailwaysIntercity Express Colombo–Kandy departs at 07:00 and arrives at the final destination at 09:25. The total scheduled journey time is approximately 2h 25m. Times use the official Sri Lanka timetable and are local times at each stop. Always verify with Sri Lanka Railways on the day of travel as schedules can change due to engineering work or seasonal adjustments.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy fares start from approximately LKR 350 for 2nd Class class and go up to LKR 850 for 1st Class AC. Higher-class fares include wider seating, climate control, and on long-distance services may include meals. Book through railway.gov.lk for the latest published fares and to check current seat availability.
Tickets for Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy are sold through railway.gov.lk, the official Sri Lanka Railways booking platform. Online booking opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on operator. Book in advance for the cheapest available fares. Tickets can also be purchased at station booking offices during opening hours, typically 08:00–20:00 daily.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy makes 2 scheduled stops along its route. The journey starts at Colombo Fort Station and ends at Kandy Station. Major intermediate stops include the stations listed in the timetable above. The full stop sequence with arrival and departure times is shown in the table above.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy running days are shown in the hero section at the top of this page (badges indicate which days of the week the train operates). Some long-distance services run daily while others operate only on specific days (typically weekday-only or weekend-only). Operating days can change with the annual timetable revision (usually December) so verify current running days with Sri Lanka Railways before booking, particularly for trips planned more than 6 months ahead.
Yes, railway.gov.lk typically accepts international debit and credit cards from major card networks. Some operators require a local phone number for SMS confirmation — check the booking requirements before starting your reservation. Booking platforms display fares in the local currency of the operator.
Intercity Express Colombo–Kandy offers 2 travel classes: 2nd Class, 1st Class AC. Economy or standard classes have reserved numbered seats at the lowest fare. Premium classes (business, first class, sleeper) add wider seats, climate control, and on overnight services berths for lying flat. The fare table on this page lists current published prices for each class.
Platform numbers are not pre-published — they are announced on station information displays between 20 and 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Arrive early at the originating station to check the platform allocation displays. At larger stations, platform numbers can also be viewed on the operator's app. If the train is delayed or rescheduled, the platform may change at short notice — always verify against station displays immediately before boarding.
Opens Sri Lanka Railways official booking site