Kandy to Ella Train: Does It Run, Which Class — and How Do You Get Seats?
5 min read
Start with the part most guides still miss: at the end of October 2026, no train was running between Kandy and Nanu Oya. Cyclone Ditwah damaged long stretches of the hill-country line in late November 2025. The section from Nanu Oya through Ella to Badulla reopened on 20 June 2026, and since 2 October 2026 trains from Colombo have again run as far as Peradeniya and Gampola, although landslides near Kadigamuwa have interrupted that section several times since. Kandy station itself is not served while the Peradeniya railway bridge is rebuilt, and no firm date has been announced for the line between Gampola and Nanu Oya. Until the line reopens, our pick is the car transfer to Nanu Oya with the train to Ella: it costs €27.15, is rated 4.7 from 157 reviews and includes the train tickets.
What that means for the trip
The classic through journey from Kandy is not available at the moment. The practical route is by road from Kandy to Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya, and then by train through Haputale and Ella. You still ride the best-known tea-country section; you lose the slower climb out of Kandy. Check the status again before booking anything that depends on the full line: repair targets have already slipped.
| Option | Duration | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car from Kandy to Nanu Oya, train to Ella, tickets included | 6–8 hours | €27.15 | 4.7 (157) |
| Car to Nanu Oya and the 9 am train to Ella | 4 hours (as listed) | €30.49 | 4.9 (13) |
| First-class train ticket from Kandy to Ella | 10 hours | €85.13 | 3.9 (152) |
The first option has the longest review record and stops in Nuwara Eliya, at waterfalls and tea estates before the train. The 9 am version suits travellers who want to reach Ella earlier: its booking page gives a 5 am departure from Kandy and arrival in Ella around noon, so the listed four hours do not cover the whole journey. Both transfers name second- or third-class train tickets. The booking page of the first-class ticket states that, until the line reopens, the train journey starts at Ambewela and the seller provides a free shuttle there.
Which class on the scenic section
Hill-country trains carry different combinations of reserved first, second and third class, so the class label on your booking matters more than the train’s name. Reserved second class is the best balance for most travellers: a numbered seat and, usually, windows that open. First class trades some of that openness for comfort where the train carries it. Third class is the budget choice; a reserved third-class seat is very different from boarding an unreserved carriage and hoping for space.
Our recommendation until the line is repaired: book a road-plus-rail transfer with tickets included and confirm the class in writing. If the train itself matters less, compare other day trips from Kandy.
