Neral-Matheran toy train: Know timings, ticket prices, interesting facts & more

Matheran is a quaint hill station near Mumbai nestled in the Karjat district of Maharashtra It is a vehiclefree zone known for its serenity and untouched beauty One of the most soughtafter experiences of travelling from Mumbai to this getaway is the enchanting NeralMatheran toy train journey Meandering through the dense forests of the Western Ghats the train takes tourists through picturesque landscapesThe NeralMatheran train services operated by the Central Railway were paused on June 8 2024 due to the monsoon season It resumed operations on November 6 2024 after almost five months and we embarked on a journey on this narrowgauge trainBoarding the train at Neral station we were welcomed by rustic interiors and a cosy seating space Throughout the journey the scenic beauty on both sides kept the passengers engaged From dense forests to mini waterfalls from magnificent boulders to stunning valley views the journey away from the sight and sound of any vehicle and city bustle served as a refreshing changeThe train travelled through several curves and bends bringing both ends of the train in sight as we looked outside It also passed through a short tunnel famously called the lsquoOne Kiss TunnelrsquoOn the course of the journey the train stopped at three stations ndash Jummapatti Water Pipe and Aman Lodge ndash where we were greeted with eager locals shooting visuals of the toy train on their phones and people selling snacks fruits etc to the tourists With small and narrow footpaths these stations had an oldworld charm One of the highlights of the ride was the famous Kadyavarcha Ganpati a huge rockcut idol of Lord Ganesha which was visible from the trainAs we reached Aman Lodge vehicles came in sight No automobile is allowed beyond this beyond The tourists either walk take a horse ride or board the toy train from here to reach Matheran We continued our journey in the toy train and as Matheran came into view and we approached the station a barrage of tourists came in sight all waiting eagerly to buy tickets or board the train back to MumbaiThe two and half hours spent to cover the distance of 20 km from Neral to Matheran seemed worth it as nature came close and chaos left the spaceIf you too are eager to embark on this journey herersquos all you need to know about itHistory and interesting factsThe NeralMatheran toy train has a rich history It began operations in 1907 and has undergone several infrastructural upgrades since thenThe train covers a height of approximately 750 m from Neral to MatheranThe sharpest curvature on this route is approximately 120 degreesThere are three major level crossing gates along the route ie places where the rail line crosses a roadThe Matheran Light Railway MLR is on UNESCO tentative list for Mountain Railways of IndiaInfrastructural upgradesDue to various challenges that come with running a train in the hills the toy train line has had to undergo several infrastructural upgrades Many changes have been made since the past year especially in the past five months when the services were pausedSwapnil Nila Chief Public Relations Officer CPRO Central Railway reveals ldquoAll the steel sleepers on this railway line have been replaced by concrete ones Approximately 1340 concrete sleepers have been laid per km In total more than 26000 sleepers have been changedrdquoldquoApart from that this was a 50 pounds rail from the British era We have changed it to 673 pounds rail From Neral to Aman Lodge ballast has been added in a different way to ensure stability of the track Also previously these used to be unwelded rails Now there is welding after every 9 mrdquo he addsOther infrastructural upgrades include attempts to reduce curvatures by changing the alignment wherever possible and building side drains to minimise the risk of flowing waterTimings tickets and moreTwo trains run on NeralMatheran route daily in both directionsNeral to MatheranThe first train departs from Neral at 850 AM and reaches Matheran by 1130 AMThe second train departs from Neral at 1025 and reaches Matheran by 105 PMMatheran to NeralThe first train departs from Matheran at 245 PM and reaches Neral by 530 PMThe second train departs from Matheran at 4 PM and reaches Neral by 640 PMApart from this six shuttles run between Aman Lodge and Matheran daily in both directions On weekends there are 8 shuttles available between the two stations The train consists of six coaches including three secondclass one firstclass coach and two secondclasscumluggage vansTicket pricesOne can buy tickets offline at Neral Aman Lodge or Matheran stations Here are the pricesFirst class Rs 300 Rs 180 for childrenSecond class Rs 75 Rs 45 for childrenToy train and tourismThe toy train service has significantly impacted tourism in Matheran Not only does the toy train provide a convenient mode of transportation but also a memorable experienceldquoThe toy train carries approximately 600 people everyday from Neral to Matheran and almost the same amount of people from Aman Lodge to Matheran Approximately 1200 tourists travel from this train on a daily basisrdquo informs the CR CPROGayathri who travelled in the toy train on its first day after resuming says ldquoIt has been a wonderful experience We had to wait in line for the tickets but the ride was superb The scenery on both sides was pleasant and Kadyavarcha Ganpati was the highlight I have been to Matheran before by road but I feel this is a better journey in terms of experience especially for the kidsrdquoldquoI felt so close to nature There were no cars around It was a fun experiencerdquo says another travellerAlso ReadThe intriguing world of collecting souvenirs ndash whatrsquos their allure