Matheran toy train derails, second incident in 24 hours

MUMBAI: A first-class coach of the Matheran-bound narrowgauge heritage mini trains from Neral station derailed, the second such incident in 24 hours, between Jummapatti and Water Pipeline stations on Friday.

No passengers were hurt in the mishap, but the derailment, also the fourth in three months has raised serious concerns over the safety of passengers.

The 111-year-old Neral-matheran ‘toy’ train is a major tourist attraction, which chugs 21km from Neral in Raigad district to the Matheran hill station.

The mishap occurred around 10.35am, some time after it left from Jummapatti. Two wheels of the first-class coach that was second from the engine derailed. No passengers were injured in the mishap as the train was running slowly.

The Central Railway (CR) said that services resumed on the line after the coach was back on track around 11.50am.

This is the third such derailment this month alone. Prior to this, the train derailed on Thursday at 3.35pm, when two wheels of a luggage coach of the train derailed between Jummapatti and Water Pipeline stations.

Earlier this month, the engine of the train derailed near Neral station, with more than 80 passengers on board.

The first derailment occurred on October 22, just three days after CR relaunched the services post monsoon. A luggage-cum-brake van coach derailed near Aman Lodge station.

The derailments have occurred even after Railways has conducted various safety works worth ₹6 crore, including improvement in the braking system of the train.

The works were undertaken after two back-to-back derailments in May 2016.

The Matheran services were suspended for almost 20 months following the mishap.

It was learnt that a senior official from the safety department was rushed to Matheran to investigate the reasons of backto-back derailments. “Railways should do some research to avoid repeated mishaps,” said Manoj Khedekar, ex-council president of Matheran,which islocated around 100km from Mumbai.