Colombo Light Rail


The Colombo Light Rail Transit System is a metropolitan light rail system under construction serving the designated Western Region Megapolis area within the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. The system is planned to be operated as a public-private partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and selected private entities.

Infrastructure

The system is expected to consist of 7 lines and cover a total distance of 75 km. The project's construction is divided into 7 phases, with phase 1 encompassing the construction of part of RTS 1 and RTS 5, along with the entirety of RTS 4, and phases 2 through 7 expanding the network throughout the planned Western Region Megapolis.
Tenders for phases 2 through 6 are scheduled to be called in mid-2018, with construction of the lines taking place simultaneously. All seven phases are expected to be operational by 2023, and cost a total of $6 billion. An extension into the Colombo International Financial City is planned; further expansions beyond 2023 are also planned, with possible extensions of the network to cover Homagama, Horana and Mirigama.

Phase 1

Construction/engineering feasibility studies, an environmental impact assessment and a social impact assessment for phase 1 began in late November 2017, and are slated for completion by June 2018. Tenders are also due to be called for the selection of investors for a central maintenance depot. Phase 1 covers 15.8 km with 17 planned stations on two lines, and a planned travel time of 27 minutes.
Phase 1, costing $1.25 billion, is funded by a concessionary loan from Japan.
Construction began on 3 July 2019.

Lines