Title - Rs 2cr plan to cut travel time to Matheran - The Times of India

MUMBAI: The journey between Neral and Matheran by toy train may become faster as Central Railway (CR) has taken steps to strengthen the tracks on the 19-km stretch. CR general manager Subodh Jain said, "Strengthening of the tracks will be done at Rs 2 crore within a year. If adequate number of coaches and engines are available, we will able to run faster services with more capacity per trains."

CR is using the tracks retrieved from Miraj-Latur line that has gone for track upgradation. Jain said, "After this is done, there are plans to attach locomotive at the rear side of the train to make it faster . We can then increase the capacity to 8 coaches, allowing more passengers to travel by this train."

The constraint is the availability of the coach and engines. As of now, CR has only five locomotives . It also faces operational problems if any engine fails. Also, attachment of locomotives at rearend and modified braking system or air-brakes will help CR do away with brake porters. "CR expects to cut running time from 2 hrs 20 minutes to at least 1 hr 30 minutes."