| MATHERAN TOY TRAIN |
The century-old Matheran Hill Railway deposits passengers among the shady greenery of the peaceful, pollution-free hill settlement of Matheran -- where all vehicles are banned, even bicycles. The toy train is one of five historic mountain railways currently operating in India. The railway was founded by Mumbai based entrepreneur Abdul Hussain Peerbhoy and had its first run in 1907, after three years of constructing the train line.
It has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is yet to be listed.
Note: The Matheran toy train was suspended in May 2016, following multiple derailments. It restarted in late October 2017 with a safer brake system, but only initially ran on part of the route from Aman Lodge to Matheran. The train was relaunched on the full route, from Neral to Matheran, in January 2018. However, services are limited to two a day. There are plans to increase the number of carriages and to add an air-conditioned carriage before the end of the year.
Train Route
The toy train crawls its way, in a zigzag manner, 20 kilometers (12 miles) up the hill from Neral to Matheran. Due to the steep slope, which goes up more than 2,600 feet above sea level, it takes over two hours to cover the distance. Gradually, the scenery changes from grassy slopes to shady, tree-covered hills.
Food vendors selling a range of snacks and cold drinks jump on and off the train along the way -- usually while it's moving, which is an indication of just how slow it travels!
Refreshments can be purchased at stations as well. The train stops at three stations before reaching Matheran (Jummapatti, Waterpipe and Aman Lodge). It also passes through one short tunnel, interestingly named "One Kiss Tunnel".
What's commendable is that all stations now have solar power and wind energy plants, and energy-efficient LED lights and fans.
Train Services
The toy train is small, with a capacity of about 100 passengers. There are one first-class carriage and three-second class carriages. If you feel like having a relaxing and relatively comfortable journey, choose first class, where you'll get a padded seat in a cozy compartment.
Aman Lodge station is next to Dasturi car park, and shuttle train services also operate between there and Matheran.
| Matheran Toy Train Fast Facts |
| When Was Toy Train Started | 15th April 1907. |
| Achievements | Listed in UNESCO’s Heritage in 2005 |
| Distance Between Neral Station and Matheran | 21 Km |
| Station Between | Neral > Waterpoint > Aman Lodge > Matheran |
| Time Taken | 2 Hours ( Neral To Matheran), 30 Minutes ( Aman Lodge TO Matheran) |
| Train Attractions | Slow Moving, Deep Valley view, Mini Train seating, 127 Degree Curve where complete train itself can be seen, Monkey along the pathway. |
| Train Timings / Timetable |
As of October 2018, following the monsoon, the toy train is running as follows:
Aman Lodge to Matheran -- 8.40 a.m., 9.55 a.m., 10.45 a.m., 11.55 a.m., 12.45 p.m., 2 p.m., 3.05 p.m, 4.25 p.m., 5.15 p.m., and 6.05 p.m.
Matheran to Aman Lodge -- 8.15 a.m., 9.30 a.m., 9.55 a.m., 10.20 a.m., 11.10 a.m., 12.20 p.m., 1.35 p.m., 2.40 p.m, 4 p.m., 4.50 p.m., and 5.40 p.m.
The shuttle between Aman Lodge and Matheran is more frequent and takes 18 minutes.
There are 10-12 departures per day as follows. Do check the timetable though, as some of the earlier and later services only operate on weekends.
| Toy Train Fares (Cost Per Person) |
Matheran to Neral
First Class : Rs.300 (Adult), Rs.180 (Children).
Second Class : Rs.75 (Adult), Rs.45 (Children).
Matheran to Aman Lodge
First Class : Rs.300 (Adult), Rs.180 (Children).
Second Class : Rs.45 (Adult), Rs.30 (Children).
Delux Saloon (Rs.1500) for Maximum 5 people in a group.
| How to Make Bookings |
Unfortunately, tickets can't be booked online at the moment. They must be purchased from the ticket counters at Neral and Aman Lodge (for the shuttle). The ticket counter at Neral opens 45 minutes before departure. Do get there early, as demand for tickets is high. The availability of first-class tickets is better, as there's less demand for them.
Otherwise, when the toy train is running as normal, bookings can be made at Indian Railways computerized reservation counters, or on the Indian Railways website. Here's how to make a reservation on the Indian Railways website. The station code for Neral is NRL, and Matheran MAE. Keep in mind that there's also a place near Mumbai called Nerul, so don't get the two confused!