The Salem Division of Southern Railways is arranging free bus facility for passengers (with reserved tickets) between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam from February 1.

Due to engineering and related works for increasing the length of platforms at Mettupalayam to accommodate 23 more coaches, Train No.12671/12672 Chennai Central- Mettupalayam Nilgiri (Blue Mountain) Express will be terminated at Coimbatore and start from Coimbatore for 31 days from February 2 to March 3, an official release said on Friday.

“With a view to help the passengers alighting at Coimbatore to catch the Mettupalayam-Ooty Nilgiris Mountain Rail (NMR) Toy Train and also the passengers who are coming down from Ooty to Mettupalayam by NMR, buses have been arranged by the commercial branch of the division, between the two stations, as per the timings of the Nilgiris express. The facility, under instructions from Divisional Railway Manager, Hari shankar Verma, is being extended to only reserved passengers who are holding valid journey tickets. The passengers need not to pay for this bus service,” it said.

Increasing the length of platforms at Mettupalayam will enable stabling of the entire rake of Nilgiri Express there instead of leaving a portion of the train at Coimbatore.