With the renovation of the Runnymede Railway Station, tourists now have another scenic location to look forward to seeing while on their journey on board the iconic Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR).
The 125-year-old railway station, offering spectacular views of the mountainside and Shola forests, is also just a few hundred meters away from the Kattery Park. The Runnymede station is among two railway stations along the NMR route – the other being Adderley, that was earmarked for restoration.
Following the completion of the project to restore the station, tourists visiting the station expressed their joy at seeing the newly refurbished station.
D. Ramanathan, a visitor from Chennai, said that travelling along the NMR route itself was extremely satisfying, and added that the newly renovated station was a sight to behold.
“In the evenings especially, with the really nice lighting it looks spectacular and will draw in more tourists like myself,” he said.
K. Natrajan, a heritage train enthusiast and founder of the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust, said that there had been calls to renovate the station since 1996, and added that the improvements to Runnymede would definitely help promote tourism among the NMR line. “It is the nearest station to Coonoor, and has excellent road access, and if capitalised on by the railways, could serve to bring in more funds through tourism,” he said.
Mr. Natrajan added that the only downside to the experience while trains stopped at the station was the sight of plastics and garbage dumped further upstream into the Coonoor River making its way down to the station. “I hope that a small check dam that can trap garbage before it makes its way down to the station is set up,” he said.
