Batticaloa line
{{Short description|Railway line in Sri Lanka}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Batticaloa line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image = Rail bus manufacturd by sri lankan railway engineers.jpg
| image_width =
| image_alt = Rail bus in Punani railway station
| caption = Rail bus in Punani railway station
| type = Inter-city rail and regional rail
| system = Sri Lanka Railways
| status =
| locale =
| start = Maho Junction
| end = Batticaloa
| stations = 31
| routes = *Udaya Devi Express Train
*Pulathisi Intercity Express train
*Meenagaya night Intercity express train
*Maho-Batticaloa mix train
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| open = 1928
| close =
| owner = Sri Lanka Railways
| operator = Sri Lanka Railways
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength_km = 212
| linelength_mi =
| linelength =
| tracklength_km=
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| tracklength =
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm}}
| old_gauge =
| load_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = No
| speed_km/h =
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| elevation_m =
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| website =
| map = {{Batticaloa railway line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The Batticaloa line is a railway line in Sri Lanka. Branching off the Northern line at Maho Junction, the line heads east through North Central Province and south-easterly through Eastern Province before terminating at the eastern city of Batticaloa. The line is {{convert|212|km}} long and has 31 stations.{{cite web|title=Statistics - Sri Lanka Railways|url=http://www.transport.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=114&lang=en|publisher=Ministry of Transport, Sri Lanka|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228064539/http://www.transport.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=114&lang=en|archivedate=2012-12-28}} The line opened in 1928.{{cite web|title=The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka|url=http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/rroutes.html|publisher=Infolanka.com}} There were no services on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa stretch of the line between 31 October 1996 and 12 April 2003 due to the civil war.{{cite news|title=Trains to Batticaloa back on track|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=8762|newspaper=TamilNet|date=12 April 2003}} The Udaya Devi service operates on the line.
Route definition
File:Batticaloa railway station.JPG
The Batticaloa line runs through the North Central and Eastern Provinces, connecting Mahawa (Maho Junction) on the Northern Line with the eastern city of Batticaloa.
The line runs east of Maho Junction towards Habarana. At Habarana, the construction of a new line to connect to Kurunegala has been proposed in June 2013 to cut short journey times between Colombo and Batticaloa-line destinations.{{Cite news|title = Construction expedited on the new railway line from Kurunegala to Habarana in Sri Lanka|date = 18 June 2013|url = http://www.colombopage.com/archive_13A/Jun18_1371527624KA.php|publisher = ColomboPage|accessdate = 21 July 2013}} East of Habarana, the Trincomalee Line diverges off the Batticaloa line at Gal Oya towards the port city of Trincomalee. The Batticaloa line continues south-east towards Polonnaruwa before continuing to Batticaloa terminus.
History
The Batticaloa line opened in 1928, as a light railway. Only locomotives with light axel loads were used on the line.http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/rroutes.html The Rail Routes of Sri Lanka
In the 1950s, the route was upgraded to support {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge operation, under the administration of then CGR General Manager B. D. Rampala. Sharp curves and steep gradients were eased, as well as the change to heavier rails, to match the rest of the system.
File:Class M8A.jpg, before the Batticaloa line branches off the Northern line]]
Between 31 October 1996 and 12 April 2003, there were no services on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa stretch of the line, due to the civil war.
Operation
Sri Lanka Railways operates the Udaya Devi service on the Batticaloa line. The service connects Colombo Fort with Batticaloa.
Railbus service is provided for local services without significant demand. Railbus services allow SLR to meet local needs without stressing its limited rolling stock.
Infrastructure
The Batticaloa line is entirely single track, at {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge.{{cite news | title=The Island | url =http://www.island.lk/2008/07/23/features5.html | work =Rampala regime in the local Railway History | date = 2010-07-19 }}
The line is not electrified. Regular services run on diesel power, including the railbus services. The line currently operates on a lock-and-block signaling system.
Stations
=Kalawewa=
{{Infobox station
| style=
| name= Kalawewa Railway Station
| image=Kalawewa Railway Station.jpg
| image_caption= West-end view of the station
| address=
| coordinates={{coord|8.0234|80.5311|type:railwaystation_region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| line=Batticaloa line
| other=
| platform=
| tracks=1
| parking=
| bicycle=
| passengers=
| pass_year=
| pass_percent=
| opened=
| electrified=no
| code=KLW
| elevation=115.65m
| owned=Sri Lanka Railways
| services={{s-rail|title=Sri Lanka Railways}}
{{rail line
|previous=Awukana
|next=Ihalagama |route=Batticaloa Line trains
|col=A52A2A }}
| mpassengers=
}}
Kalawewa Railway Station ({{langx|si|කලාවැව දුම්රිය ස්ථානය}}) is a railway station in the town of Kalawewa in the North Central region of Sri Lanka. Owned by Sri Lanka Railways, the state-owned railway operator, the station is part of the Batticaloa line which links Batticaloa District with the capital Colombo.{{cite web|title=Station Details|url=http://www.railway.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165&Itemid=191&lang=en|publisher=Sri Lanka Railways|access-date=27 June 2024}} The railway station is in close proximity to the historic Kalawewa Reservoir and other local landmarks like Yodha Ela.
==Tourism==
Kalawewa Railway Station is a preferred stop for those visiting the Avukana Buddha Statue, one of Sri Lanka's most iconic ancient sculptures, located a short drive from the station.{{cite web|title=Aukana Temple|url=https://www.travellankaconnection.com/destinations/aukana-temple/|publisher=Travellankaconnection|access-date=25 November 2024}} The scenic beauty of the Kala Wewa reservoir and the lush greenery of the region attract both domestic and international tourists