Neral-Matheran mini train to resume on October 30 ahead of Diwali holidays

The mini train between Neral and the Matheran hill station will run again from October 30, 2026. Railways will restart the service between Neral and Matheran from that date, giving children a chance to enjoy the toy train ride during the Diwali holidays.

For safety reasons, the direct Neral-Matheran service is kept shut during the monsoon, the five months from June to October. During this period, the shuttle service between Matheran and Aman Lodge continues to run as per the timetable. The mini train will now be restored from Neral directly to Matheran, at the top of the ghat. The train will also prove important for the daily travel of local residents.

The down train from Neral to Matheran will make two trips daily. The first train will leave Neral at 8.50 am and reach Matheran at 11.30 am. The second will leave Neral at 10.25 am and reach Matheran at 1.05 pm.

The up train from Matheran to Neral will also make two trips daily. The first will leave Matheran at 2.45 pm and reach Neral at 5.30 pm. The second will leave Matheran at 4.00 pm and reach Neral at 6.40 pm.

The train will have a total of six coaches: three second-class coaches, one Vistadome coach, and two second-class coaches with a luggage van.

The Aman Lodge-Matheran shuttle will run daily with six trips. From Aman Lodge, the services leave at 8.45 am (reaching Matheran at 9.03 am), 9.35 am (9.53 am), 12.00 noon (12.18 pm), 2.25 pm (2.43 pm), 3.40 pm (3.58 pm) and 5.45 pm (6.03 pm). On Saturdays and Sundays there will be two additional special services. Special-1 will leave Aman Lodge at 10.30 am and reach Matheran at 10.48 am, and Special-3 will leave Aman Lodge at 1.35 pm and reach Matheran at 1.53 pm.

The Matheran-Aman Lodge shuttle will also run daily with six trips. From Matheran, the services leave at 8.20 am (reaching Aman Lodge at 8.38 am), 9.10 am (9.28 am), 11.35 am (11.53 am), 2.00 pm (2.18 pm), 3.15 pm (3.33 pm) and 5.20 pm (5.38 pm). On Saturdays and Sundays there will again be two additional special services. Special-2 will leave Matheran at 10.05 am and reach Aman Lodge at 10.23 am, and Special-4 will leave Matheran at 1.10 pm and reach Aman Lodge at 1.28 pm.