Sri Lanka Railways has restored the Ambewela–Nanu Oya section and announced a daily special passenger service between Nanu Oya and Badulla. Below is the official Train 1005/1006 timetable, including Ella, Haputale and Bandarawela stops.
From June 20, 2026, a daily special passenger service operates between Nanu Oya and Badulla after restoration of the Ambewela–Nanu Oya track section. Train 1005 leaves Nanu Oya at 9:00 AM and reaches Badulla at 12:16 PM. Train 1006 leaves Badulla at 3:00 PM and reaches Nanu Oya at 6:06 PM. The route serves Ella, Bandarawela, Haputale, Ohiya, Pattipola and other hill-country stations.
Sri Lanka Railways confirms that the cyclone-damaged Ambewela–Nanu Oya section has been restored. The existing Badulla–Ambewela service is extended to Nanu Oya as a daily special train in both directions from 20 June 2026.
Source: Sri Lanka Railways media notice, last updated 18 June 2026. View the official notice.
The repaired section allows the Badulla hill-country service to continue to Nanu Oya.
One daily service in each direction under the published special timetable.
Check Colombo/Kandy connections separately; the notice covers Nanu Oya–Badulla only.
Times below are transcribed from the Sri Lanka Railways notice for Special Trains 1005 and 1006. Railway timings can still change operationally, so passengers should arrive early and reconfirm at the station.
Sri Lanka Railways offers a mix of reserved and unreserved classes depending on the train and route. Not every train has every class, so always check the exact train before promising a class to a customer.
| Class | Best For | Comfort | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Class A/C | Long journeys, comfort, less crowd | High comfort | Reserved on selected trains. Windows are closed, so photos may be less natural. |
| 1st Class Observation | Hill-country view seekers | Limited seats | Great for views where available, but sells out fast on popular routes. |
| 2nd Class Reserved | Kandy–Ella, Nanu Oya, family travel | Best value | Numbered seat and open-window experience on many trains. Best option for most tourists. |
| 2nd / 3rd Unreserved | Budget travelers, short rides, flexibility | Flexible | Buy close to travel time where available. No guaranteed seat and can be crowded. |
| Sleeper / Berth | Some overnight long-distance routes | Route-specific | Available only on selected night trains, so confirm before quoting. |
These are the routes most travelers ask about when planning a Sri Lanka holiday by train, private driver, or mixed train-and-car itinerary.
The restored daily special service reconnects Nanu Oya with Ella and Badulla through Sri Lanka’s most scenic highland railway section.
Ocean-side rail journey, especially popular for travelers connecting Colombo with Galle Fort, Unawatuna, Mirissa and the south coast.
Useful for travelers visiting the Cultural Triangle and Northern Sri Lanka with a more direct rail connection from Colombo.
A practical rail option for travelers heading toward the East Coast season, with selected long-distance day and night train options.
Use official Sri Lanka Railways tools first. For the resumed Nanu Oya–Badulla special service, use the published timetable above and confirm class or reservation availability separately. For any Colombo or Kandy connection, verify the exact operating train before building the itinerary.
Check the official schedule service when available. For Nanu Oya–Badulla, the official June 18 notice and timetable above are the primary current update.
Open official train scheduleReserved seats can be booked through the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation portal. A reservation is confirmed only after successful payment.
Open official seat reservationFor foreign travelers, enter passenger names and passport details correctly. Tickets are not transferable, and the details should match the traveler.
Online bookings send e-ticket details by email. Keep the e-ticket on your phone or print it, and carry your passport for the journey.
Pravesha is the Sri Lanka Railways smart-ticketing platform for selected 2nd and 3rd class ordinary/commuter tickets.
Open PraveshaOfficial ticket prices depend on distance, train, route and class. The official schedule service is the safest place to check the final fare for your exact date and stations.
Higher comfort and reserved seating on selected long-distance trains. Good for Jaffna, Batticaloa and longer routes.
Limited scenic seats on selected routes. Very high demand, especially around popular hill-country journeys.
Usually the best tourist choice: reserved seat, strong value and better photography feel on scenic trains.
Lowest-cost option, but seat is not guaranteed. Better for short rides and flexible travelers.
These small details help tourists avoid the common mistakes that lead to missed trains, no seats, or wrong expectations.
The Nanu Oya–Ella–Badulla section resumes from 20 June 2026, but availability and class details still need confirmation. For Kandy or Colombo connections, check the exact train separately.
Large luggage can be difficult during crowded travel. Keep valuables and passport with you.
Sri Lanka train delays can happen. Avoid same-day tight train-to-international-flight planning.
For comfort, take the scenic train segment and use a private car for hotel pickup, luggage and remote areas.
Send your travel date, route, passenger count and luggage plan. We can arrange a hotel-to-Nanu Oya station transfer, collect you at Ella or Badulla, and build a train-plus-private-driver itinerary around the new daily service.
Tip: Include 1–2 backup dates/times if your first train choice is sold out.
Short answers designed for travelers, Google snippets, AI Overviews and voice-search style questions.
Sri Lanka Railways announced that daily passenger services between Nanu Oya and Badulla resume from 20 June 2026, following restoration of the Ambewela–Nanu Oya section.
Daily Train 1005 leaves Nanu Oya at 9:00 AM, reaches Ella at 11:27 AM, and arrives in Badulla at 12:16 PM.
Daily Train 1006 leaves Badulla at 3:00 PM, reaches Ella at 3:52 PM, and arrives in Nanu Oya at 6:06 PM.
No. The official June 18 notice confirms the Nanu Oya–Badulla section only. Any direct or connecting service from Colombo or Kandy should be checked separately before travel.
The published timetable includes Nanu Oya, Ambewela, Pattipola, Ohiya, Idalgashinna, Haputale, Diyatalawa, Bandarawela, Ella, Demodara and Badulla.
The reopening notice lists the times and stops but does not state coach classes or guaranteed reserved-seat availability. Check the official reservation portal or railway station before confirming a class.
Use the official Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation portal: seatreservation.railway.gov.lk.
Nanu Oya is the main rail station serving Nuwara Eliya. Travelers normally use a road transfer between their Nuwara Eliya hotel and Nanu Oya station, allowing extra time for traffic and luggage.
Yes. We can arrange hotel-to-station transfer at Nanu Oya, luggage transport, and pickup at Ella, Bandarawela, Haputale or Badulla as part of a private-driver itinerary.
We help travelers combine Sri Lanka’s scenic trains with reliable private transfers, airport pickup, hotel-to-station drops, luggage-friendly routes and driver support across the island.
