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Matheran toy train to be back on track, but only on 3km route

MUMBAI: Central Railway plans to restart Matheran's toy train between the hill station and Aman Lodge before Christmas. Services were suspended on the entire 20km route between Matheran and base station Neral following monsoon damage at 22 locations.

Though the 3km route between Matheran and Aman Lodge wasn't damaged, the train couldn't be run on this stretch as maintenance facilities for the locomotive as well as coaches are only at Neral.



"Now, we are constructing a pit line at Matheran so that locomotive inspection can be undertaken. Maintenance cannot be undertaken here, but the pit line will be useful in helping us undertake replacement of any defective parts," said CR's divisional railway manager SK Jain. The replacements for defective parts can be brought to Matheran by road. CR is eying a plot near Aman lodge for another pit line.

The land belongs to the local municipal council and CR hopes it will be able to obtain it as running the toy train is critical for the hill station's economy. CR runs a total of seven shuttle services between Aman lodge and Matheran on weekdays and 10 on weekends. A journey on this stretch takes around 20 minutes.

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