NERAL – MATHERAN TOY TRAIN TIMINGS

NERAL – MATHERAN TOY TRAIN DETAILS

Central Railway’s Matheran Hill Railway is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Maharashtra, India. A delight to the tourists and the route to the summer destination for Mumbaikar’s covers a distance of 21 kms cutting a swathe through a forest in the Western Ghats from Neral to Matheran. The narrow-gauge railway line halts at three stations in between i.e. ✅ Jummapatti, Waterpipe, Aman Lodge and terminate at Matheran. All these four stations are now provided with a solar power plant of capacity 500-1000 Wp and wind Mill of capacity 6.1 KWp at Matheran including energy-efficient LED lights and Fans.

• Timings of Neral-Matheran Services
  • ✅ Aman Lodge-Matheran Section: Total Train Services List
  • ✅ Aman Lodge-Matheran Section: 4 More Shuttle Services ~ 18.11.2020
  • Aman Lodge – Matheran: 4 More Shuttle Services ~ 14.11.2020
  • Running of shuttle services o­n Aman Lodge-Matheran Section ~ 4.11.2020
  • Revised Timings of Neral-Matheran Services from 27.12.2019
  • Monsoon Timing: Matheran Train Service
• Fare Details of Neral – Matheran Toy Train
  • Neral Matheran Light Train Card Ticket Fare List
• Summary of Neral – Matheran Toy Train Services
• FAQs

Matheran Hill Railway : An Introduction

The Matheran Hill Railway covers a distance of ✅20 kilometres (12 mi) between Neral and Matheran in the Western Ghats. The construction of the Matheran Hill Railway was led by Abdul Peerbhoy and was financed by his father, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy of the Adamjee Group. The route was designed in 1900, with construction beginning in 1904 and completed in 1907. The original tracks were built using 30 pounds per yard rails but were later updated with heavier 42 pounds per yard rails. Until the 1980s, the railway was closed during monsoon season due to increased risk of landslides, but it is now kept open throughout the year. The line is administered by Central Railways.

A ✅unique feature of the line is its horseshoe embankments. Notable features of the route include Neral Station, the first on the route; the Herbal Hill section; the steep grade of Bhekra Khud; the One Kiss Tunnel (the only tunnel on the route, it earned its nickname because the tunnel is just long enough to exchange a kiss with one’s partner); a water pipe station, which is no longer in operation; Mountain Berry, which features two sharp zigzags; Panorama Point; and finally, the end of the route at Matheran Bazaar. The broad-gauge railroad between Mumbai and Pune runs near the Matheran Hill Railway, and the two tracks cross each other at two locations. The ruling gradient for the railroad is 1:20 (5%) and tight curves require train speeds to be limited to 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph).

✅ How to Reach:-

• Via Train
  • Railway Line – 21 km – long
  • Journey Time – 2 hours, 30 minutes
• Via Road
  • Road 8 km – long
  • Journey Time – 20 minutes

Details related to fare, train timing in Neral – Matheran toy train services are following.

Timing of Neral – Matheran Toy Train Services

Updated Timings of Neral – Matheran Toy Train Services are here:-

✅ Aman Lodge-Matheran Section : Total Train Services List

Central Railway announced on 10.01.2021 that CR has transported 53,679 passengers and 5,864 packages since it resumed operation in this section with 4 shuttle services o­n 4.11.2020. Due to a steady increase in the number of tourists to this destination, services were gradually increased from 4 to 8 from 14.11.2020 to 12 from 18.11.2020 and added a couple of more services making it a total of 14 services till date between Aman Lodge and Matheran.

These services, in addition to providing a comfortable journey to tourists, helping cheap and quick transportation of materials also. This has resulted in enhancing the railway earnings by Rs.34,15,582 during the period from November-2020 to till date.

✅ Aman Lodge-Matheran Section : 4 More Shuttle Services ~ 18.11.2020

Central Railway announced that CR is already running daily 4 shuttle services between Aman Lodge and Matheran and 8 shuttle services o­n Saturdays and Sundays. Now, CR will be running with immediate effect 4 more shuttle services till 22.11.2020 making the total 12 services (6 Up and 6 Dn daily)

The details of additional 4 services are as under:

• Shuttle Matheran depart 11.30 hrs Aman Lodge arrive 11.48 hrs
• Shuttle Aman Lodge depart 12.00 hrs Matheran arrive 12.18 hrs
• Shuttle Matheran depart at 14.00 hrs Aman Lodge arrive 14.18 hrs
• Shuttle Aman Lodge depart at 14.30 hrs Matheran arrive 14.48 hrs

Composition
3-second class, o­ne first class and 2 luggage vans.

Aman Lodge – Matheran: 4 More Shuttle Services ~ 14.11.2020

Central Railway announced that is already running 4 shuttle services between Aman Lodge and Matheran. In addition to this, 4 more ( 2up and 2 Down)  shuttle services o­n Saturday and Sunday will be introduced from 14.11.2020.

The additional services will run o­n Saturday and Sundays till further instructions.

The details are as under:

• Shuttle Matheran departed. 10.20 hrs Aman Lodge arrived 10.38 hrs
• Shuttle Aman Lodge departed. 10.45 hrs Matheran arrived 11.03 hrs
• Shuttle Matheran departed. 15.10 hrs Aman Lodge arrived 15.28 hrs
• Shuttle Aman Lodge departed 15.35 hrs Matheran arrived 15.53 hrs

Composition: 3 second class, o­ne first class and 2 luggage vans

Revised Timings of Neral-Matheran Services from 27.12.2019

Central Railway announced that Aman Lodge – Matheran Shuttle services to resume from 27.12.2019. Details are following.

✅ Revised Timings

Composition

One First Class, Three Second Class and 02 Brake Van

Monsoon Timing : Matheran Train Service

Every year Central Railway decided to discontinue the passenger services between Neral and Aman Lodge during monsoon. However the shuttle services between Matheran and Aman Lodge will continue to run.

The timings of shuttle services between Aman Lodge and Matheran are as under:-

The trains running between Neral and Matheran will remain cancelled between Neral and Aman Lodge (i.e. will run o­nly between Aman Lodge and Matheran) during the monsoon period.

Fare Details of Neral – Matheran Toy Train

Central Railway attached an AC coach to the Neral – Matheran train from Saturday i.e on 08.12.2018. The coach will run on one Up and one Down service.

The fare will be ✅ Rs.415/- per person, which will be inclusive of the basic fare, reservation charges and GST. There will be 16 seats and the coach will be attached to the existing rake. Initially, the AC coach will be installed in one train and based on feedback, more coaches will be retrofitted.

Central Railway also decided to run an additional pair of services between Neral – Matheran on December 8 and 9 to cater to the extra rush. This service will leave Neral at 10.30 and and arrive at Matheran at 01.10 pm. It will then leave Matheran at 01.15 pm and arrive in Neral at 03.55 pm.

Neral Matheran Light Train Card Ticket Fare List

✅ Second Class Ticket Fare

• Between Aman Lodge and Matheran : Adult 45/- , Child 30/-
• Between Neral and Matheran : Adult 75/- , Child 45/-

✅ First Class Ticket Fare

• Between Aman Lodge and Matheran : Adult 300/- , Child 180/-
• Between Neral and Matheran : Adult 300/- , Child 180/-

✅ Deluxe Saloon

• Between Aman Lodge and Matheran : Only for 1325/-
• Between Neral and Matheran : Only for 1325/-

Tickets for available seats will be issued from station counter within 45 minutes before departure of the train. Each passenger can carry only 5 kg luggage in second class and 7.5 kg luggage in first class with him. Maximum 4 tickets are issued to 1 person from station counter. Book Tickets Online http://www.irctc.co.in. In case if you have missed the train or couldn’t get the reservation, you can still hire the taxi from Neral and reach Matheran by road in less than 30 minutes.

Summery of Neral – Matheran Toy Train Services

✅ Summary of Neral – Matheran Toy Train Services are following.

• 06.40 am – First daily train depart from Neral
• 09.55 am – First daily train depart from Aman Lodge

No.of Services

• 17th on Monday
• 03 From Neral to Matheran
• 14 Aman Lodge to Matheran

14 Tuesdays to Thursday

• 02 from Neral to Matheran
• 12 Aman Lodge to Matheran

21 on Friday

• 03 from Neral to Matheran
• 18 Aman Lodge to Matheran

22 on Saturday and Sunday

• 02 From Neral to Matheran
• 20 Aman Lodge to Matheran

Amount spent on upgrading the line – 18 Cr
Horsepower upgraded trains will run on – 650

• Monday – Total services 17 (8 Dn + 9 Up) : Neral-Matheran 3 (1 Dn + 2 Up), Aman Lodge-Matheran 14 (7 Dn + 7 Up)
• Tuesday to Thursday Total Services 14 (7 Dn + 7 Up) : Neral-Matheran 2 (1 Dn + 1 Up), Aman Lodge-Matheran 12 (6 Dn + 6 Up)
• Friday Total services 21 (11 Dn + 10 Up) : Neral Matheran 3 (2 Dn + 1 Up), Aman Lodge-Matheran 18 (9 Dn + 9 Up)
• Saturday and Sunday Total services 22 (11 Dn + 11 Up) : Neral Matheran 2 (1 Dn + 1 Up), Aman Lodge-Matheran 20 (10 Dn + 10 Up)

Newspaper report on 16.05.2020

Central Railway to restart parcel service to Matheran ~ 16.05.2020: Trains To Matheran May Resume Soon: Matheran residents, who had been complaining of lack of transport for basic essentials, may now get their trains back. Following a court order, the district collector has now approached Central Railway to get the services of the narrow gauge train service from Aman Lodge to Matheran restored. The Bombay high court (HC) on Saturday (16.05.2020) disposed of a petition and temporarily allowed thrice a week vehicular access to Matheran, a scenic hill station in Maharashtra, for the supply of essential goods to the ecologically sensitive zone (ESZ).

Newspaper report on 25.12.2019

Newspaper report on 31.03.2018

102 Matheran Services by Central Railway

Central Railway has revived its services to Matheran like never before to run 102 services every week, with and average of 17 to 22 daily, starting Friday, a famous Newspaper reported.

Due to the demand of tourists and residents of Matheran, and given the rising popularity, railway has decided to run more services on the Neral – Matheran line.

The six coach trains will run a total of 17 services on Mondays, 14 between Tuesdays and Thursdays, 21 on Fridays and 22 on Saturdays and Sundays. An elaborate  New Train Time Table 2019 – 2020has been worked out for the same.

Railway has invested about Rs.18 crore for upgrading the line. New locomotives are also being manufactured at the Parel workshop to improve services. They have also put up gabion walls and upgraded the old locomotives with digitised controls, air brakes and double the horse power.

The trains, previously running on 306 HP, will now run on 650 HP. The line, which opened in 1907, is already in the tentative UNESCO world heritage list.

The renewed services come after Central Railway announced in November 2017 that for the first time in its 110 year history, they were re-laying the entire stretch of railway tracks between Neral and Matheran, upgrading locomotives and redrafting safety parameters to revive and start full services by March.

FAQs

✅ Is Toy Train Available in Matheran?

3 toy trains runs between Neral station and Matheran, About 8 train services between Matheran and Aman Lodge.

✅ Can I book Matheran toy train tickets online?

No, Online booking service is not available for Neral – Matheran Toy trains, only offline booking is possible.

✅ How do I travel from Neral to Matheran?

• Road :- From Neral you will have to go to Matheran by road, which is a 30-minute journey.
• Trains :-
  • Many Local trains on the Mumbai-Karjat route stop at Neral.
  • Another way to reach Matheran is to catch the Toy Train that departs from Neral. The beautiful journey takes about 2 hours

✅ What is best time to visit Matheran?

The best time to visit is between October and May. But the best month to visit is October to November, this is when the monsoon has just retreated and the temperature is cool and perfect for sightseeing.

✅How far is Neral from Matheran?

The travel distance between Neral to Matheran is 7 KM and 815 meters.

✅Can I take my car to Matheran?

Cars / bike are not allowed within Matheran. After Matheran entry point no vehicles are allowed as per UNESCO.

✅ Which is the best travel mode to reach Matheran?

You can drive up and park your car at Dasturi car point, or take the newly introduced mini bus shuttle from Karjat or Neral railway stations upto Dasturi. From Dasturi you must take a 40 minute horse ridding or cart ridding to Matheran market as well as in sightseeing you can also take both rides.

✅ How do I get to Matheran by bus?

There are frequent State Transport and private buses plying to Matheran from Pune, Panvel and Mumbai. MSRTC provides ordinary and deluxe buses. The buses will stop 2.5 kms from city as Matheran is a no vehicle zone. You can reach the destination by taking rickshaw, horseback or on foot.

✅What is the travel time from Panvel To Matheran?

Panvel is located around 17 KM away from Matheran so if you travel at the consistent speed of 50 KM per hour you can reach Matheran in 0 hours and 47 minutes. Your Matheran travel time may vary due to your bus speed, train speed or depending upon the vehicle you use.