The ride from Kandy through the tea country to Ella regularly appears on lists of the world's most beautiful train journeys. Then, on 28 and 29 November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah brought floods and landslides to the central highlands. Landslides hit 97 locations along the upcountry line, and repair costs ran into hundreds of millions of dollars.
Repairs have moved section by section through 2026. This guide covers the line as it stands in October 2026. We will update it when through trains return.
// Line status
What is running right now
Sri Lanka Railways said it works strictly to safety reports from the National Building Research Organisation, which is why sections reopen one at a time. Check the current timetable before you travel, as services are still being restored.
// The workaround
How to ride it now
The section that is running is the most dramatic part of the whole journey: misty highlands, tea estates and deep valleys. Missing the Kandy to Nanu Oya stretch costs you less than most people fear.
// Tickets
How to book tickets
- Official online reservations. Sri Lanka Railways runs an online seat reservation system for reserved seats. A booking is only guaranteed once full payment is received, and refunds are limited to part of the ticket's face value.
- At the station. Unreserved tickets are sold on the day. They are cheap and usually easy to get, but you may stand for some of the ride in busy periods.
- Agencies and resellers. Online resellers and hotel desks can get you reserved seats, but typically charge several times the station price.
Reserved seats on this route sell out early in high season, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. You may still need to collect a physical ticket at the station before boarding.
// On board
Choosing a class and a seat
// In Ella
When you arrive in Ella
Ella is a small hill town built for walking: Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock and the Nine Arches Bridge are all close by. See our Ella page and the Nuwara Eliya page for planning, and our budget transport guide for buses and trains around the rest of the island. Flying a drone at the Nine Arches Bridge? Read our drone rules guide first.
The famous train is back where it matters most. Start at Nanu Oya.
Until through trains return, go by road from Kandy to Nanu Oya, book your seat early, and ride the high country to Ella. We will update this guide the day the full line reopens.
// Common questions
Kandy to Ella train: frequently asked questions
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Is the Kandy to Ella train running in 2026?
Not end to end yet. Cyclone Ditwah damaged the upcountry line in late 2025. The Nanu Oya to Ella and Badulla section reopened on 20 June 2026, and trains from Colombo resumed as far as Peradeniya and Gampola on 2 October 2026. The line from Gampola up to Nanu Oya is still closed, and the last 6 km into Kandy station waits on repairs to the Peradeniya railway bridge. Officials expect full Colombo to Badulla services to return by the end of 2026, and some travel guides say early 2027.
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How can I do the Kandy to Ella train ride right now?
Travel from Kandy to Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya, by road, then take the train from Nanu Oya to Ella. That way you still ride the highest and most scenic part of the line.
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How do I book a train ticket from Nanu Oya to Ella?
Reserved seats can be booked on Sri Lanka Railways' official online reservation system, and unreserved tickets are sold at the station on the day. Reservations are only guaranteed after full payment, and seats sell out early in high season.
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Which part of the Kandy to Ella line is the most scenic?
The stretch from Nanu Oya to Ella, climbing through tea country past Pattipola, the highest station on the line, and on through Haputale and Bandarawela. It is the section that is running now.
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Will this guide be updated when the full line reopens?
Yes. We will update this page when Sri Lanka Railways restores through trains between Kandy and Ella.
