Trains link the major cities and have several classes:

Trains link the major cities and have several classes:

» 1st class sleeper. 1st class sleeping-berths are available on a few overnight trains.

» 1st class observation car. Available on the best daytime trains on the scenic route from Colombo to Kandy and Badulla. The observation car is normally at the rear of the train (or sometimes behind the locomotive) and has comfortable (if slightly grubby...) armchairs facing a large window looking back along the track. Seats must be reserved before departure. The 1st class observation car is highly recommended.

» 1st class air-conditioned seats car. Only available on one or two trains.

» 2nd class seats, available on all trains. These come in several versions, depending on the train:

(1) unreserved seats, where you buy a ticket, hop on and sit in any available seat,

(2) reserved seats where you must make a reservation and you get an allocated seat,

(3) reserved 'sleeperette' reclining seats which are available on most overnight trains. 2nd class seats are the recommended option on trains with no 1st class.

» 3rd class seats, available on most trains. These come in several versions, depending on the train: unreserved seats, reserved seats, and reserved 'sleeperette' reclining seats. 3rd class is very basic and gets very crowded, and it is not generally recommended for visitors.

Some people may joke that train travel in Sri Lanka is for people with little money and lots of time, but for tourists it is a wonderfully appealing mode of travel, especially in the island’s highlands where the scenery can be breathtaking at times. The downside is that for some routes the train can be slower than a car and delays are common.