Title - No additional service on Nilgiri Mountain Railway: Southern railway general manager

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The southern railway general manager RakeshMisra on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of introducing one more service on Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), a long pending demand by the locals.
"With one track on the NMR, extra service will be impossible. After five in the evening, it is difficult to notice movements of wildlife on the track," said Misra.

The GM was here on an inspection tour of track and stations on the route from Mettupalayam to Ooty. In a specially arranged train which was stopped at all the stations, including Hillgrove, Kattery and Coonoor, the GM personally led the inspection at all points. "It is a routine inspection in the NMR section," Misra said. Apart from higher officials from the southern railway, a special guest from European Commission also accompanied the team during the inspection.

"Mr Bird, a railway researcher from Brazil, accompanied me on the trip. He is interested in steam loco production unit and it is a part of his research," said Misra. Mr Bird was amazed to learn that the southern railway is the only railway in Asia which manufactures steam engines that too only for the NMR section, Misra added.

Regarding the recent brake failure of a loco near Kallar station, Misra said mechanical errors are beyond human control. However, we are focusing more on the safety measures in the section".

On June 15, a steam loco pulling goods wagons from Coonoor to Mettupalayam developed a brake failure and could not stop at Kallar station. When asked why Kallar station doesn't have 'catch-siding'-a safety measure system meant for ghat section railways- Misra said Kallar was located at the tail portion of the ghat section. Even otherwise, NMR does not require 'catch-siding' as the gliding was not very steep, he said.