The Hindu : NMR summer special is a big hit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 25, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

NMR summer special is a big hit

By Our Staff Reporter

The summer special of the Nilgiris Mountain Railway arriving at the Udhagamandalam station.

UDHAGAMANDALAM April 24. A `summer special' between Udhagamandalam and Mettupalayam introduced recently on the Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) has become very popular. This can be gauged from the large number of people who travel by the train daily.

According to railway sources, an average 2,000 persons were daily using the `toy trains' running between Udhagamandalam and Mettupalayam and Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Since a visit to the hill station is considered incomplete without a ride on the NMR, tourists are planning their sight-seeing trips keeping in view the departures and arrivals of the trains.

Some tourists though said that the timing of the special service should be changed. The train, which starts from Mettupalayam at 9.10 a.m., reaches Coonoor at 12.30 p.m. The passengers then have to shift to another train which leaves Coonoor at 1.30 p.m. and reaches Ooty at 2.45 p.m.

This upset their lunch plans, the tourists said, adding that the "long wait" could be avoided if the special was run between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam with only the usual halt at Coonoor.

Railway officials also felt that the service could be made more "passenger friendly" and the break in Coonoor could be avoided.

About the departure of the regular service from Mettupalayam, the tourists said that it should be changed to 8 a.m. from 7.10 a.m.

This would give the outstation passengers enough time to refresh themselves as the train did not have toilet or wash facilities. They also expressed the view that the summer special could be converted into a permanent service.

The programmes for the `Summer Festival-2002', scheduled to commence at the Centenary Rose Park on May 12, have been finalised. Official sources said that the dance, drama and music programmes would be conducted till May 26 after which the annual fruit bonanza would be held at Sim's Park in Coonoor.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Comprehensive law to tackle organised crime

`Search for Veerappan has not slackened'

Seat belts mandatory

NMR summer special is a big hit

SC to hear UGC plea on T.N. entrance test

HC confirms suspension of transport workers

Transfers routine: Minister

Compensation for Tamaraikani stayed

Governor greetings on Mahavir Jayanthi

Sea erosion hits Pitchavaram forests

Keep decorum, Speaker warns Ilamvazhuthi, Ponmudi

DMK submits documents to EC

High-power commission on fire safety likely

Produce records on Jayalalithaa nominations: HC