Coimbatore : After a gap of five years, a train hauled by steam loco began its services today in Nilgiris Mountain Railway section between Mettupalayam and Coonoor.

The ‘Heritage Steam Voyage’ summer special with three coaches is being operated on Saturdays and Sundays till June 24, following demands from tourists and heritage enthusiasts. This fully reserved train (with no unreserved coach) starts from Mettupalayam at 9:10 am to reach Coonoor at 12.30 pm with stoppages at Kallar and Hillgrove. On the return trip at 1:30 pm, it is expected to reach Mettupalayam by 4:20 pm.

Southern Railway has made elaborate arrangements to make this travel a pleasant memory and is also providing value-added services such as on-board refreshments and a few mementos unique to the area, worth around Rs 200, the Railways said it a statement. While the first and second coaches have seating capacity of 52 each, of which first class will have 16, the third coach of 28 seats would all be second class. On the first day today, 27 seats fell vacant in three coaches, they said.