30.10.17

Matheran toy train back on track

Matheran toy train services will resume today, 17 months after being suspended following two derailments in May 2016. It means those visiting the hill station don't have to walk or take a horse ride 3.5 km uphill from Aman Lodge to Matheran, but can enjoy the scenic ride again.

The toy train will initially run between Matheran and Aman Lodge, and will cover the full stretch up to Neral in a few days. The first train from Aman Lodge will leave at 9.25 am on Monday and will reach the hill station in 25 minutes--at 9.50 am.The fare for a second class journey will be Rs.45 for an adult and Rs.30 for a child, while for the first class, it will be Rs.300 for an adult, Rs.180 for a child. Sources said the second class fare has been hiked by around Rs.10.

On Sunday , the Central Railway successfully completed a trial run of the toy train between Neral and Matheran, after which it received the go-ahead from the commissioner of railway safety .

At present, visitors can drive up to Dasturi Naka which is close to Aman Lodge station, and then cover the remaining journey either on foot or horseback.

A senior railway official said that for passenger safety, the train's hand brakes have been replaced with air brakes --brake failure was said to be one of the reasons for the 2016 derailments.

Besides, the railways has re-laid the track surface, set up netted safety walls along the tracks and brought in changes in train coach design.

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