Is it legal to walk on the train tracks at the Nine Arch Bridge?

Walking on the railway tracks is technically illegal in Sri Lanka, but it is basically tolerated by the authorities near the Nine Arch Bridge. Hundreds of tourists and locals end up walking the rails every day, with no real legal repercussions, at least in practice.

Since the train passes extremely slowly through this curved, mountainous section, pedestrians usually have plenty of time to step off the tracks into the designated safety niches. Still, that quiet tolerance means visitors must act with extreme care and keep constant spatial awareness at all times.