Neral-Matheran toy train to run again from October 30, timetable out

The narrow-gauge toy train between Neral and Matheran, fondly called the Matheran Queen, will start running again on October 30, 2026. Central Railway announced the restart on Wednesday and has put out the timings for both the hill train and the shorter Aman Lodge shuttle.

The direct service had been off the tracks since June 15 as a monsoon safety measure. It was first meant to return on October 15, but the date was pushed to October 29 for safety reasons, and trains will now roll from the day after. Through the break, the shuttle between Aman Lodge and Matheran kept to its schedule. Railway officials say the closure from June to October is routine and is repeated every year.

The revival is expected to help tourists heading to Matheran in the winter season and during the festival holidays. It is also being seen as a treat for children during the Diwali break, and the train matters for the daily movement of local residents as well. The full run is expected to take about two hours 40 minutes.

Two trains will run each day in either direction. From Neral, train 52103 departs at 8.50 am and reaches Matheran at 11.30 am, while train 52105 leaves at 10.25 am and arrives at 1.05 pm. From Matheran, train 52104 leaves at 2.45 pm and gets to Neral at 5.30 pm, and train 52106 leaves at 4 pm and arrives at 6.40 pm.

Each train will have six coaches. Trains 52103 and 52104 will carry three second-class coaches, one Vistadome coach and two second-class coaches combined with luggage vans. Trains 52105 and 52106 will have three second-class coaches, one first-class coach and the same two luggage-van coaches.

The Aman Lodge-Matheran shuttle will operate daily with six trips each way, and extra special services will be added on Saturdays and Sundays because of the growing tourist numbers. Going up from Aman Lodge, trains 52153, 52155, 52157, 52159, 52161 and 52163 leave at 8.45 am, 9.35 am, 12 noon, 2.25 pm, 3.40 pm and 5.45 pm, reaching Matheran at 9.03 am, 9.53 am, 12.18 pm, 2.43 pm, 3.58 pm and 6.03 pm respectively. On weekends, Special 1 leaves at 10.30 am and arrives at 10.48 am, and Special 3 leaves at 1.35 pm and arrives at 1.53 pm.

In the other direction, from Matheran, trains 52154, 52156, 52158, 52160, 52162 and 52164 depart at 8.20 am, 9.10 am, 11.35 am, 2 pm, 3.15 pm and 5.20 pm, and reach Aman Lodge at 8.38 am, 9.28 am, 11.53 am, 2.18 pm, 3.33 pm and 5.38 pm. The weekend extras are Special 2, leaving at 10.05 am and arriving at 10.23 am, and Special 4, leaving at 1.10 pm and arriving at 1.28 pm. Every shuttle trip takes 18 minutes.

Central Railway has asked passengers to note the timings carefully before planning their trips. With the Neral service back, the direct toy train link up the ghat to Matheran is restored after the monsoon pause.