ExpoRail

{{for|ExpoRail near Montreal, Canada|Canadian Railway Museum}}

{{Infobox rail company

| name = ExpoRail

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| regions = Main Line

| secregions = Northern Line

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| parent_company = Expolanka

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File:Expo_Rail.jpg

ExpoRail was a train service provider in Sri Lanka. ExpoRail used to provide premium services on several routes in Sri Lanka, in partnership with Sri Lanka Railways. Although it did not operate its own trains for scheduled services, it operated carriages that were attached to trains operated by Sri Lanka Railways. ExpoRail also offered charter services, where entire trains were composed of its own carriages.

In February 2012, Lanka Business Today noted that ExpoRail was the fastest growing luxury train service provider in Sri Lanka.{{cite news|title=Luxury Rail|url=http://www.lbt.lk/news/business/1298-luxury-rail|accessdate=28 February 2012|newspaper=Lanka Business Today|date=2012-02-26|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302192945/http://www.lbt.lk/news/business/1298-luxury-rail|archivedate=2 March 2012}}

As of September 2017, ExpoRail is no longer operational. The official website displayed the following message: "Expo Rail operations have been cancelled until further notice due to a delay in Sri Lanka Railways finalizing the agreement & tender."

Overview

Although ExpoRail carriages were attached to Sri Lanka Railways-operated trains, ExpoRail provided on-board services and marketed it as a separate operation. The service was aimed at middle and upper middle-income and tourist markets.{{cite news|title=Luxury rail services on tracks from today|url=http://www.ft.lk/2011/10/06/luxury-rail-services-on-tracks-from-today/|accessdate=28 February 2012|newspaper=Daily FT|date=2011-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219180004/http://www.ft.lk/2011/10/06/luxury-rail-services-on-tracks-from-today/|archive-date=19 February 2012|url-status=dead}} Sri Lanka Railways generated revenue by charging ExpoRail a standard first-class fare per seat. ExpoRail charged an additional premium on its passengers to provide its services.

History

ExpoRail launched its first service on a Kandy intercity train on October 1, 2011. Transport Minister Kumar Welgama and Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake were present at the launch.{{cite news|title=Expo Rail - a good work by the Railway|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2011/10/71971_space.html|accessdate=28 February 2012|newspaper=Lanka Newspapers|date=2012-10-27}} On the same day, a competing service was launched by Blue Line Company, the Rajadhani Express.{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan railway introduces luxury class Services on Colombo -Kandy rails|url=http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/414-sri-lankan-railway-introduces-luxury-class-services-on-colombo-kandy-rails|accessdate=28 February 2012|newspaper=News.lk|date=2011-11-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404182531/http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/414-sri-lankan-railway-introduces-luxury-class-services-on-colombo-kandy-rails|archivedate=4 April 2012}} On December 10, 2011, it added Badulla services and began services to Vavuniya on January 31, 2012. In ExpoRail's first year of service, 44,500 passengers had travelled on their services.{{cite news|title=Expo Rail turns one|url=http://www.ft.lk/2012/10/13/expo-rail-turns-one/|accessdate=18 October 2012|newspaper=DailyFT|date=13 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015174620/http://www.ft.lk/2012/10/13/expo-rail-turns-one/|archive-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead}}

Services

ExpoRail servesd four routes, on three major rail lines in Sri Lanka.{{cite web|title=EXPORAIL TIMETABLE|url=http://www.exporail.lk/time-table.php|publisher=ExpoRail|accessdate=28 February 2012|archive-date=24 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224003625/http://www.exporail.lk/time-table.php|url-status=dead}} Over 60 destinations were served. ExpoRail also provided charter trains.{{Cite web|url = http://www.exporail.lk/news.php|title = Expo Rail operated a full train on May 10, 2012 for DILMAH|date = 10 May 2012|publisher = ExpoRail|accessdate = 9 August 2013}}

class="wikitable"
colspan="1" |RouteCalling atFrequency
style="background:YellowGreen; color:White" width="120px" | Main Linewidth="300px" | Colombo Fort to Kandy
and Colombo Fort to Badulla
width="300px" | All Main Line stationswidth="250px" | Daily for Kandy;
Tuesday/Friday/Sunday Eastbound and Wednesday/Saturday/Monday Westbound for Badulla

class="wikitable"
colspan="1" |RouteCalling atFrequency
style="background:YellowGreen; color:White" width="120px" | Northern Linewidth="300px" | Colombo Fort to Vavuniyawidth="300px" | Colombo Fort, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniyawidth="250px" | Daily

class="wikitable"
colspan="1" |RouteCalling atFrequency
style="background:YellowGreen; color:White" width="120px" | Eastern Lineswidth="300px" | Colombo Fort to Trincomaleewidth="300px" | Colombo Fort, Kurunegala, Galoya, Trincomaleewidth="250px" | Thursday/Saturday/Sunday Eastbound; Friday/Sunday/Tuesday Westbound

Rolling Stock

ExpoRail used Romanian-built ASTRA passenger coaches which are 30 years old. Imported by Sri Lanka Railways in the 1980, they were refurbished with state-of-the-art interiors in 2011–2012.

During the refurbishment, the carriages were fitted with air-conditioning, carpeting, first-class toilet facilities, Wi-Fi, LCD TVs, and side racks to store passenger luggage. Sri Lankan architectural firm KWA Architects prepared the interior designs.

= Livery =

Each ExpoRail carriage had a unique, brightly coloured livery. Local advertising agency, Trumps Solutions, was responsible for the livery designs.

See also

References