Booking of tickets to Udhagamandam for the summer tourist season through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation or at railway counters across all the stations has commenced. Already, advance reservation for the Nilgiris Mountain Railway train No. 56136 Mettupalayam - Udhagamandalam passenger is over till June-end, railway sources here said.

However, the reservation for the Class I and Class II in ‘Heritage Steam Voyage’ Summer Special Train No. 06171 from Mettupalayam to Coonoor from March 31 to June 24 is available.

The train running with fully reserved coaches will have a total number of 52 trips. The train will start from Mettupalayam at 9.10 am and will reach Coonoor at 12.30 pm with stoppages at Kallar and Hillgrove. In the return direction, the train will start from Coonoor at 1.30 pm and reach Mettupalayam at 4.20 pm. Fare structure of this train is Rs. 1,100 for first class and Rs. 800 for second class. Half-ticket for children below 12 years will not be applicable for this train, railway sources said.

Meanwhile, for the summer special the third furnace-oil fired steam engine 37392 arrived at Mettupalayam from the Golden Rock Rail Workshop in Trichirapalli on Thursday in a truck after the Periodical Over Hauling. Two other furnace-oil fired steam engines are being operated in the regular NMR route between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam.