Neral toy train is one of five historic mountain railways currently operating in India. This 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. The toy train crawls its way, in a zigzag manner, covering a distance of 21 km, cutting a swathe through the forest, and connecting Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats. 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. It takes a 127° curve where the complete train can be viewed by the passengers.
While traveling on the toy train from Matheran to Neral you can enjoy the beautiful view of the deep valley. The train stops at three stations before reaching Matheran (Jummapatti, Water Pipe and Aman Lodge). It also passes through one short tunnel, interestingly named "One Kiss Tunnel". 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 the first class. The shuttle between Aman Lodge and Matheran is more frequent and takes 18 minutes and there are 10-12 departures per day. The tickets 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. You should be there early, as the demand for tickets is high. Neral toy train booking can be made at Indian Railways computerized reservation counters or on the Indian Railways website. Departure times are prone to change, so it is recommended that you check the train information before purchasing the tickets.
The journey from Neral to Matheran by toy train makes your vacation memorable. You can explore almost every tourist point when traveling through this toy train. This is surely an amazing experience for tourists and nature lovers.
Neral Toy Train Matheran Ticket Charges: A one-way trip on the toy train between Neral and Matheran costs Rs.300 for adults and Rs.180 for children in first class. It is Rs.75 for adults and Rs.45 for children in second class.
Shuttle service costs: Rs.45 for adults and Rs.30 for children.
