Title - Over 11,000 hop on toy train within 10 days of launch - The Times of India

MUMBAI: Within ten days of its launch, the Central Railway received an unprecedented response to its plan to run the toy train service in the monsoon on the 3-km stretch between Aman Lodge and Matheran, with more than 11,000 passengers travelling by the train.

People travelled by their personal cars or taxis up to Dasturi naka, from where they took the toy train to reach Matheran. Earlier, passengers had to pay exorbitant amounts to coolies or to hire horses. The other option was to simply walk down to Matheran. However, now, they can reach the popular hill station in 12 minutes in a comfortable train ride.

Every year, the toy train services remain suspended for four months between mid-June and mid-October during the monsoon for safety reason. However, this year, the CR launched special services on September 29.

CR chief public relations officer V A Malegaonkar said, "During the first ten days, 11,429 travelled by the train. We operated 177 services and on two days-October 2 and October 7, we had to double the number of services to cater to the huge rush."

Passengers have to pay Rs 35 for a class-II ticket and they can enjoy the scenic beauty en route to the hill station, he said.

The toy train coaches, which were manufactured at the Kurduwadi workshop, have wide windows. The trains are ferried in a push-pull formation, with locomotives attached on both ends. The services witness a huge rush during vacations and festive seasons. The toy trains ply from Neral station to Matheran, covering a distance of 19.97 km.

In the near future, the CR plans to introduce a luxury coach in the train. "There are plans to carve out a compartment with luxurious interiors, comfortable sofas and privacy for family members," said a senior CR official. "We will also serve piping hot food for Matheran-bound passengers," he added.

There are 221 curves along the 106-year-old Matheran Light Rail (MLR) stretch. Due to the steep slope, it takes over two hours to cover the distance from Neral to Matheran and one hour and forty minutes on its return journey.

The Central Railway got an unprecedented response from more than 11,000 passengers traveling by the toy train between Aman Lodge and Matheran in just ten days after the launch on September 29.

These were passengers, who travelled by personal cars and taxis to Dasturi naka and then hopped on the toy train for a 3-km journey to Matheran. In the past, the same passengers had to pay exorbitant rates to coolies, for hiring horses or simply walk the 3 km distance. Now, they can reach the popular hill station in a comfortable train ride for 12 minutes.

Moreover, the special service was launched during the CR's monsoon period-when toy trains usually dont operate. CR chief public relations officer V A Malegaonkar said, "The actual tally of passengers travelling during the first ten days came to 11,429. We operated 177 services and on two days (October 2 and 7), we ran double the number of services to cater to a huge rush."

For a Class II ticket, passengers paid just Rs 35 and enjoyed the scenic sights on the way to the hill station, he said.

The coaches manufactured at Kurduwadi workshop are fitted with wide viewing windows and the trains are ferried in a push-pull formation-with locomotives attached on both ends. The toy train at Matheran is in great demand during the vacations and festive seasons. It actually plies from Neral station to Matheran, covering a distance of 19.97 km.

In near future, the CR also plans to introduce a luxury coach in the same train. "There are plans to carve out a compartment with luxurious interiors, comfortable sofas and privacy for family members,'' said a senior CR official. "We will also serve piping hot food for Matheran-bound passengers."

The 106-year-old Matheran Light Rail has 221 curves along the stretch. Due to the steep slope, it takes over two hours to cover the distance from Neral to Matheran and one hour and forty minutes on its return journey.