Hill Country train Saturday - still the split Ambewela board or did they reconnect Kandy
If we skip 6.28, the romantic version is a Saturday hill train. Ada had a railway item a few hours ago about online season tickets for private-sector staff from September. Partner read "railway" and heard "Kandy to Ella is back." Last we knew, Ditwah still had the line split - Kandy-Nanu Oya closed, upper scenic bit running from Ambewela / Nanu Oya toward Ella-Badulla. Has Saturday 22 Aug quietly become a through train or are we still a van to the upper board.
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3 Answers from travellers
Ada's ~3h item is online railway season tickets extended to private-sector employees from September (Minister Bimal Rathnayake). That is a commuter-pilot, not a 22 Aug Kandy-Ella through service. Traveler guides through July/Aug 2026 still describe the Ditwah split: Colombo-Kandy not whole; Kandy-Nanu Oya closed; Ambewela-Badulla / Nanu Oya-Ella-Badulla as the running scenic piece. I have not checked against a 21 Aug railway.gov.lk board - do not treat this forum as the Saturday consist. If the hill train is the trip, assume you still road-transfer to the upper section and confirm in the morning at a station / the railway site, not from a season-ticket headline.
A 10.36 fantasy through-train is how you miss 6:28 and miss a train. Van to the upper board is the honest Saturday if you leave.
We turned up at Kandy station in July for Ella. There was no through. Upper section from the hills was real. Same plan until a railway notice says otherwise.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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