Rail Transport in Sri Lanka consists of a heavy-rail intercity network connecting major population centres and commuter rail serving Colombo commuter traffic. State-run Sri Lanka Railways, originally known as Ceylon Government Railways, is the nation's railway owner and primary operator. The railways were conceived in the 1850s as an instrument to develop and unify Sri Lanka. Service began in 1864, with the construction of the Main Line from Colombo to Ambepussa, 54 kilometers to the east.
The railway now moves 300,000 passengers daily on 324 trains between 320 stations across the country. At a peak of 1,900 metres (6,200 ft), Sri Lanka has the highest broad gauge railway in the world.
During the first half of the twentieth century, a tram system operated on the streets of Colombo, carrying commuters within the city.
Read more about Rail Transport In Sri Lanka: Trends, Intercity Rail, Commuter Rail and Railbus, Operators, Network and Infrastructure, See Also
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