Nilgiri Mountain Railway takes new avatar, back on track as TN 43 after eight-and-a-half months

Thiruchirapalli

Sources said that the NMR had stopped its service since March 20 owing to COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown and later it was decided to entertain private firms to operate the train on contract basis and so the train was renamed as TN 43. On Saturday, the train was flagged off  from Mettupalayam at around 7.30 am and reached Coonoor after 11 stoppages including Kallar, Adderley, Hillgrove and Runnymede at 11 am  and the service continued to Udhagamandalam after a break of 15 minutes at Coonoor. The train which has been operated only on the weekends from Saturday which would be continuing till January end. Once the service receives good patronage from the public, it would be further extended, sources said.

Meanwhile, the private agency manager Mujibur Rahman who hired the service told the reporters that they have fixed a one way fare of Rs 3000 per person which included tea and snacks. On Saturday, as many as 160 passengers were on board. “Plans are there for organising a package tour with Rs 12,000 per person from March 15 to June 15 and that would be a lifetime memory for the person who travels and enjoys the scenic beauty of the mountains,” he said.