India’s Slowest Train: Indian Railways is everyone’s travel option every day. Millions of passengers take this service, and this is the country’s lifeline for now. The Government of India has included the fastest trains for easy travel for the passengers, which saves time, and passengers can reach their destination faster. But, there is one train in India that is 16 times slower than any other train. This train travels 46 km for 5 hours, which might be surprising for everyone. Let’s now understand what this train is and why it travels very slowly.
Mettupalayam-Ooty Passenger Train:
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, popularly known as the Mettupalayam–Ooty passenger train, holds the title of India’s slowest train. People also call it the Ooty Toy Train because it runs between the Mettupalayam and Udagamandalam railway stations in Ooty, Tamil Nadu.
This train takes about five hours to cover 46 km, surprising many. It travels at just 10 km/h, nearly 16 times slower than most trains in India. The route passes through Keller, Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and Fern Hill. Despite its slow speed, the train offers breathtaking views and a relaxing ride through the picturesque Nilgiri landscape.
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Why does the Mettupalayam-Ooty Passenger Train Move Slowly?
Unlike most trains, which utilize broad gauge, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway uses meter gauge, which is narrower. In this train route, there are more than 200 curves, 250 bridges, and more than 16 tunnels, which are the main reasons for the train’s speed.
Mettupalayam-Ooty Passenger Train Details:
The train stops at Ooty station in Tamil Nadu after departing from Mettupalayam railway station, which is situated in the foothills of the Nilgiris. The coaches are primarily constructed of wood, painted blue and cream, and include huge windows that allow passengers to take in the scenery.
First Class coaches have 72 seats, whereas General Category coaches have 100 seats. In 2016, a fourth coach was introduced in response to the increasing demand from tourists. Around noon, the train arrives in Ooty after departing Mettupalayam at 7:10 a.m. It leaves Ooty around 2:00 PM and returns at 5:30 PM. The IRCTC website offers online ticket booking.