Galle to Mirissa by train

The train journey from Galle to Mirissa runs east along the coast through Unawatuna, Talpe, Koggala, Ahangama, Midigama and Weligama. For much of the way the track is within sight of the sea, crossing small estuaries and passing behind fishing villages and surf breaks.

Carriages are simple, with open windows and fans. Doors are often left open, and standing in them is a common habit that causes injuries every year; hold on, and do not lean out. The pace is slow, the stops are frequent and nobody is in a hurry. A window seat on the right-hand side faces the sea.

Tickets for the train from Galle to Mirissa are bought at the station counter before boarding. Most trains on this section carry only unreserved second and third class. Second class has padded seats and is usually less crowded; the difference in fare is a few cents.

Timetables change, and not every train stops at Mirissa. There are typically a few services in the morning and a few in the afternoon and evening. Ask at Galle station the day before or check the railway's online timetable, and arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to buy a ticket and find a seat.

The stations at each end shape how useful the train is between Galle and Mirissa. Galle station is beside the bus station and the cricket ground, a five to ten minute walk from the fort's Main Gate. It is a terminus-style station where through trains reverse, so stops are longer here.

Mirissa station is a small halt among houses and palms, roughly two kilometres inland. Tuk-tuks wait for arriving trains and charge roughly US$1 to 3 to the beach. Weligama station, the stop before, has more services and is ten to fifteen minutes from Mirissa by tuk-tuk, which is often the more practical choice.

The train makes sense between Galle and Mirissa for travellers with light luggage, flexible timing and a liking for slow travel. It is ideal for a day trip in either direction when a service suits, and for backpackers moving along the coast on a budget.

It makes less sense with heavy bags, small children in the midday heat or a fixed appointment such as a dinner booking. Trains can run late, and a missed service may mean a wait of two hours or more. Buses run every ten to twenty minutes on the same route and are the fallback.

Combining the coastal train with a wider trip works best for the longer leg from Colombo. Trains from Colombo Fort reach Galle in roughly two to three hours, with some services offering reserved seats, and a few continue to Weligama, Mirissa and Matara. Arriving by rail and leaving by road is a pleasant mix.

Lankan Stays & Trails often arranges for guests to ride the train one way between Galle and Weligama or Mirissa while the driver takes the luggage by road and meets them on the platform. It gives the experience of the line without the inconvenience of bags, timetables or the last two kilometres.