Mettupalayam : Much to the disappointment of tourists flocking the renowned Nilgiris Mountain Railway for an extended ride this summer vacation, railway officials have stated that owing to lack of sufficient engines, the mountain rail service from Mettupalayam to Ooty cannot be extended.
Mettupalayam : Much to the disappointment of tourists flocking the renowned Nilgiris Mountain Railway for an extended ride this summer vacation, railway officials have stated that owing to lack of sufficient engines, the mountain rail service from Mettupalayam to Ooty cannot be extended.
If there is one most coveted tourist ride in the Nilgiris for all tourists from various parts of the country, it could only be the unique mountain rail travel from Mettupalayam, up through the serene hilly landscape toward the Blue Hills. This Nilgiris Mountain Railway train service is operated from Mettupalayam to Ooty on a daily basis at 7.10 am, with an additional special train being operated during weekends. This special train which has begun operations since the start of this summer season, starts from Mettupalayam on Saturday morning at 9 am and reaches Ooty by 12 pm. The same train starts from Ooty by 11.25 am on Sunday and reaches Mettupalayam by 4 pm.
With the onslaught of thousands of tourists craving for a ride on the NMR, a general request was to extend the special train service for an additional two days. But the Mettupalayam Railway officials say that due to insufficient engines to operate the mountain train, it would be impossible to extend the special NMR services.
“There are totally eight engines available to operate the NMR from Mettupalayam to Ooty, of which the engines operated with the help of charcoal are useless and defective. One engine was sent to the Trichy Railway workshop for repair work. Hence, we have only four engines now. Only these engines are used alternatively to operate the train. Even though we have additional train compartments, we are in shortage of engines now and hence unable to extend the special train service,” explained a railway official.
If there is one most coveted tourist ride in the Nilgiris for all tourists from various parts of the country, it could only be the unique mountain rail travel from Mettupalayam, up through the serene hilly landscape toward the Blue Hills. This Nilgiris Mountain Railway train service is operated from Mettupalayam to Ooty on a daily basis at 7.10 am, with an additional special train being operated during weekends. This special train which has begun operations since the start of this summer season, starts from Mettupalayam on Saturday morning at 9 am and reaches Ooty by 12 pm. The same train starts from Ooty by 11.25 am on Sunday and reaches Mettupalayam by 4 pm.
With the onslaught of thousands of tourists craving for a ride on the NMR, a general request was to extend the special train service for an additional two days. But the Mettupalayam Railway officials say that due to insufficient engines to operate the mountain train, it would be impossible to extend the special NMR services.
“There are totally eight engines available to operate the NMR from Mettupalayam to Ooty, of which the engines operated with the help of charcoal are useless and defective. One engine was sent to the Trichy Railway workshop for repair work. Hence, we have only four engines now. Only these engines are used alternatively to operate the train. Even though we have additional train compartments, we are in shortage of engines now and hence unable to extend the special train service,” explained a railway official.