Title - Over 11k hop on toy train within 10 days of launch Somit Sen TNN

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 daysOctober 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 breathtaking 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 adistance 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 Matheranbound passengers, he added