Galle railway station


Galle railway station is a railway station in the southern city of Galle in Sri Lanka. Owned by Sri Lanka Railways, the state-run railway operator, the station is part of the Coast Line, which links Sri Lanka's south coast with the Colombo.

Location

Galle Station is located in the centre of Galle. It is just northwest of the Galle International Cricket Ground. Galle's City Hall is next to the station and the historic Galle Fort is a short distance from the station.

Layout

Galle station is designed as a terminus station. Thus trains have to back out of the station to continue towards an onward destination. Passengers enter the station from the south and trains approach from the north.
The station's terminal layout has posed some problems in its operation, since all trains have to change directions and reverse out of the station to continue on to their destinations. This can cause long turn-around times and it places the passengers in the opposite direction of where they had been facing.
In 2011, diesel multiple units were introduced, as part of a line upgrade. The DMUs reduce turn-around times as locomotives do not need to run around and change ends.

Architecture

Galle station is an example of Modernism. The station conforms to the International Style, and uses concrete massing to create a geometric form. Its minimalist walls and simple, bold forms offer a contrast from the highly ornamented, traditional and colonial architecture that surrounds it. Yet the building is symmetric, to tie back to the surrounding architecture and facilitate movement through the building towards the platforms. This contributes to the station's layout as a terminus station. The façade also demonstrates a contrast between the use of different materials. The ornament-free painted surface provides a contrast with the natural stone surface.
The portion of the building that houses the platforms is of a different, more utilitarian design. This features a metal structure that only covers the platforms, but not the trains.

Services

Galle station is served by the Ruhunu Kumari, Galu Kumari, and Samudra Devi trains. Various other services also operate at Galle. Local trains within the Southern Province connect Galle with Matara, calling at local stations along the route.

Inter-city trains

ServiceRouteFrequency
8039Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8040Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8050 & 8051Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8053Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleSundays
8056 & 8057 Galu KumariColombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8058 & 8059 Ruhunu KumariColombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8085 & 8086Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8093Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraSaturdays
8096 & 8097 SagarikaColombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraDaily
8311Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle - MataraDaily
8320Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleSaturday – Sunday
8321Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleSaturday – Sunday
8327Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleDaily
8713Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleMonday – Friday
8714Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleMonday – Friday
8760 & 8327 Samudra DeviColombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleMonday – Friday
8764Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleDaily
8766Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – MataraMonday – Friday
8775Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - GalleDaily

Local trains

ServiceRouteFrequency
8752, 8338, 8340, 8345, & 8368 Local trainsGalle – MataraMonday – Friday

Continuity