Indian Railways’ Neral-Matheran toy train has resumed services with Vistadome coaches for passengers to experience the magnificence of traveling and roaming through the stunning landscapes of the Western Ghats.
- It covers a distance of 21 km, cuts a meadow through the forest and connects Neral with Matheran in the Western Ghats. The MHR is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- The construction of the railway began in 1904 and the two-foot gauge line was finally opened to traffic in 1907. Three diesel engines were purchased in 1955. The railway was closed in 2005 due to flood damage and was not expected to reopen before April 2007.
- In 2012, eight coaches with modern amenities and large look-out glass on the sides and top were put into service.
- Services was closed in the year 2019 on the Neral-Matheran section after unprecedented rainfall and damage at more than 20 locations.
- 30 new bridges have been constructed besides strengthening of existing bridges and 2 km of side drain have been constructed which will now help in channelizing the flow of rainwater instead of allowing it to flow over the track.
- The Neral-Matheran toy train has resumed services on 26 October 2022.
