The titel gives it away. If you have heavy luggage and no time to waste, the local busses and trains will not be your favorite option to travel around Sri Lanka. But you would miss out on one of the most authentic experience in Sri Lanka if you wouldn’t use it at all.
The busses are quite small, and rather made for smaller people. Getting in and out seems to be a challenge for most commuters. A very lively driving behaviour might have to do with it. Sometimes it feels like riding a cannon ball with a horn. But it’s a colorful, vivid sort of bus, often the Lanka Ashok Leyland Viking with 124 or 160 horsepower diesel engines. More information on busesworldwide.org!
The red buses are state owned, and a bit more relaxed, while blue or other colors are private owned, and often a bit more personalised, and rushing.
There is some kind of overhead compartment, but you can barely fit a handbag in it. So you have to store your luggage in the spot next to the driver, which is often just enough for two larger backpacks. Anything else will be on your lap. There’s no way I could see how you would bring your two-week luggage in a public bus.
When you imagine that situation, add people to it. Often all seats are taken. The bus drivers have no time to waste, so the whole experience is lifely, you could say authentic, and physically challenging. And on top of it all, the buses often have loud music playing! That’s usually local, lively music in higher volume.
With the trains the situation is slightly different, and there might be a chance to leave a heavy bag on the floor if the train isn’t full. There are three classes, but on some routes only one might be available. Especially in the third class many locals will approach you. It can be cramped, hot, and you might have to stand.
And yet I’m recommending Sri Lanka’s public transportation to you if you feel fit enough.
The reason number one is that you add unbelievably more experience to your vacation. You’re not just in another modern car, but for a while you are (a shining) part of the common people’s lives. You’ll see locals commuting to work, school, shopping or traveling as well. And you will easily get into conversations. And these are the memories that stick much longer than the next beer with sea view, or the next spicy chicken curry. That’s why I say relax when you take the public transport in Sri Lanka. Relax before you go, so that you are open to experience the situation. I found trains are more often used by locals who ask for money. They sing, play instruments, they talk, they sell. That happened much lesser on busses. Trains are cheaper than busses, but you’ll probably spend some money to give away. And why not? Even a hundred rupees will be appreciated.
The schedule by the way is incredibly efficient. There is usually another guy with the driver, and these guys point out the right bus, or the next one happily. You buy the ticket from him often after the bus moved for a while already. I have never waited too long to get the bus.
And here’s the second reason to use busses and trains in Sri Lanka: Public transportation is cheap. A 4 hours bus ride is often less than 2 USD. You often have to change busses to get from one place to another, but this also works usually very well. I barely ever waited more than 10 minutes.
So when you travel with heavy luggage, you might need a Tuk Tuk or car to move. But at least for day trips I absolutely recommend to try Sri Lankas public transportation!
