Kochi: People in Kochi can hop onto the world's oldest running steam locomotive and become part of history with the Indian Railways all set to operate the 164-year old 'EIR 21 Express' on the 8 km Ernakulam Junction-Cochin Harbour Terminus section on February 16 and 17.
The railways is offering "discount" rates for the trips with foreign nationals needing to pay Rs 1,000, Indian citizens (adult) Rs 500 and children Rs 300 for a single journey in the 40-seater steam locomotive.
"The ticket charges for earlier trips in Nagercoil-Kanyakumari section were Rs 1,500 for foreign nationals, Rs 750 for Indian citizens and Rs 500 for children. However, here we are offering the discount as we are planning permanent tourist train services in the Harbour Terminus and the Edapally-Vallarpadam sections at a later stage," said a senior railway official.
Initially, the authorities planned to run the heritage train across the 4.62 km Vembanad railway overbridge, the second largest one in the country, too. However, the commissioner of Rail Safety is yet to give nod for conducting passenger services in the section.
"The first trip will start from Ernakulam Junction at 11 am on Saturday. If there is high demand, we will operate another trip on the same day at 3 pm. The tickets can be booked online and also can be availed from the Reservation counter at Ernakulam Junction from tomorrow (Friday)," the official said.
The trial run of the steam locomotive will be held from Marshalling Yard to the Ernakulam Junction on Friday.
The name 'EIR 21 Express' was given to the loco by its creators Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson of England who built it in 1855. It was shipped to the country and was in operation for 55 years for erstwhile East Indian Railway.
However, the loco service was discontinued in 1909 following which it was displayed at Jamalpur Workshops and Howrah Station for over a century.
In 2010, the locomotive was overhauled and retrofitted with modern gadgets at Perambur Loco Works, Chennai.
Another trip is planned later this month for top railway officials, including the Southern General Manager, later this month before the heritage locomotive will be handed over to Palakkad division.
