Matheran toy train to run entire 21-km stretch from tomorrow

The iconic Matheran toy train, a major tourist attraction, which had partially resumed services nearly three months back, will start chugging on the entire 21-km stretch from tomorrow.
Services of the 110-year-old toy train, synonymous with the tourist spot located in the Western Ghats in the neighbouring Raigad district, were suspended in May 2016 following two derailments. However, services on the 2.5-km stretch between Aman Lodge and Matheran had resumed on October 30 last year.
The service on the full stretch will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tomorrow.
Officials of the Central Railway said that before starting the service, they have put in place a foolproof system for the safety of passengers, including installing crash barriers, gabion walls and boundary walls.

"Tourists as well as locals will be able to enjoy the train ride on the entire corridor from tomorrow," a senior CR official said.
The suspension of the toy train service had hit tourists as well as local residents and hotel operators who ferry provisions on it.

"As of now, there will be two services only- one in up direction and another in the down direction from tomorrow," chief spokesperson of the CR, Sunil Udasi, said.
"We have put in place a foolproof system for the safety of passengers, including installing crash barriers, gabion walls and boundary walls," he added.

According to Udasi, for the inaugural run, the train will leave Neral station at 10.30 am and arrive at 2 pm.
"But from the next day (January 27), the train (no. 52101) will leave Neral at 6.40 am daily and arrive at Matheran at 9.40 am. On its return journey, the train (no. 52102) will leave Matheran at 3.30 pm and arrive Neral at 6.30 pm everyday," he said.