Heritage train gets good response on Day 1

Indore: First day of Heritage train operation on Saturday saw good response from passengers, who however had to face inconvenience in reaching Patalpani station due to bad condition of road.Patalpani-Kalakund Heritage train started with a delayed of at least around two months as the tourists have been demanding to start this rail’s operation with setting in monsoon that offers ride along the scenic Vindhyas passes, crossing two tunnels, taking some adventurous turns, and offering a panoramic view of a waterfall on the meter gauge track dating back to the colonial era.The railways, which is laying a parallel broad-gauge track next to the meter gauge line between Patalpani and Kalakund station, have also cut short the duration of the operation from earlier through the week to weekend.On Saturday, the train’s first run of the season was started and saw good response from the passengers, who faced difficulties in reaching Patalpani station as the road was in bad condition. The train left Patalpani station, around 30km from Indore, at 11.05am and reached Kalakund station at 1.05pm and in return, it left Kalakund station at 3.30pm and reached Patalpani station at 4.30pm.“The train receiving good response during weekends while only a few passengers travel in weekdays and thus, it’s being operated on Saturday and Sunday” DRM Rajneesh Kumar said, adding that the approach road to Patalpani station is a private land and thus, we have approached the owner to repair it, but he yet to give the permission.A waterfall, where the train takes a halt for around half-an-hour, is the more suitable place for the passengers to climb on the train to avoid going to Patalpani station that is situated at a distance of around 1 KM, the railway officials said.They added that presently, the loco-pilot and co-pilot are being sent to Patalpani station from Mhow while diesel for the train is being sent through truck.They added that the chair car, which is a big hit among the nature-lovers to travel between both the tourist spots of Indore’s Mhow tehsil especially during monsoon, will be operated on weekends only – every Saturday and Sunday by adding a total five coaches with it. While fare to travel in two AC coaches – C1 and C2 has been fixed as Rs 265 per ticket, it will cost Rs 20 per ticket to travel in the non-AC coaches D1, D2 and D3. TNN
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