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 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 (DMU) 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

Service Route Frequency 8039 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8040 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8050 & 8051 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8053 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Sundays 8056 & 8057 Galu Kumari Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8058 & 8059 Ruhunu Kumari Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8085 & 8086 Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Daily 8093 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Saturdays 8096 & 8097 Sagarika Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Beliatta Railway Station Daily (Different times for weekends) 8311 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle - Matara Daily 8320 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Saturday – Sunday 8321 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Saturday – Sunday 8327 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Daily (Different times for Sundays) 8713 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Monday – Friday 8714 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Monday – Friday 8760 & 8327 Samudra Devi Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Monday – Friday 8764 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Daily (Different times for weekends) 8766 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle – Matara Monday – Friday 8775 Colombo Maradana – Colombo Fort – Panadura - Galle Daily

Local trains

Service Route Frequency 8752, 8338, 8340, 8345, & 8368 Local trains Galle – Matara Monday – Friday

Continuity

Galle railway station

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