Which is the Slowest Train in India?

Indian Railways is one of the largest rail networks worldwide. Millions of people ride the trains daily, going across the country. We often hear about fast trains like the Vande Bharat Express or the Rajdhani Express. But have you ever thought which is the slowest train in India? Let’s explore and find out the slowest train in India with its interesting facts.

Which is the Slowest Train in India?

Source: UNESCO

The slowest train in India is the "Nilgiri Mountain Railway" or "Mettupalayam to Ooty Passenger Train". In India, this train is also called the "Toy Train".

This train runs in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India. It travels from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam (Ooty), covering a distance of only 46 kilometres. But it takes about 5 hours to complete this journey, which means it has an average speed of 10 to 12km/hrs, and seeing its average speed, this train runs slowest then a bicycle, which many of you ride every day while going to school or to the local market.

Why is this Train so slow in the Indian Railway?

The main reason behind the slow speed of this train is the steep hills around its rail track, and to run this train on these hills, the loco pilot of the train must have a lot of patience while running the train. The elevation of the route ranges from 326 metres at Mettupalayam to a very high altitude of 2203 metres at Ooty. To cover a 46 km long route, this train has to face many difficult routes. To cover these routes, this train uses a special technology called the Rack and Pinion System.

Source: UNESCO

In this special technology, which this train uses, a toothed rail (called the rack) is placed between the two normal rails. The train has a special gear (the pinion) that locks into this toothed rail and slowly pushes the train upward, and this is the only rack and pinion railway in India.

Due to this system, this train is so slow, and this system doesn’t allow this train to move at high speed; rather, it moves slowly to ensure the safety on this railway route to reach the destination point. In this route, there are a total of 16 tunnels, 257 bridges, and there is about 209 sharp curves.

Quick Facts About the Slowest Train In India

• Train Name: Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Mettupalayam to Ooty Passenger)

• State: Tamil Nadu, South India

• Distance Covered: 46 kilometres

• Time Taken (Uphill): About 5 hours

• Average Speed: 10 to 12 km per hour

• Height Climbed: 326 metres to 2,203 metres

• Tunnels: 16

• Bridges: 257

• Sharp Curves: 209

• Operated By: Southern Railway Zone of Indian Railways

• UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site (since 2005)

Slowest Train In India: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Source: UNESCO

This train is the slowest in India, but the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 as part of the “Mountain Railways of India.” This 46-km-long metre-gauge single-track railway in Tamil Nadu State was first proposed to be constructed in 1854, but due to the difficulty of its mountainous location, the construction of “Nilgiri Mountain Railway” was started in 1891, and by 1905, it was completed. In the “Mountain Railways of India” UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Darjeeling Toy Train and the Kalka-Shimla Railway are also included.

These slowest trains in India got the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their unique engineering and historical perspective. It took more than 100 years to complete its construction, and even today, in 2026, these trains are still running every day.

So, now, you all know which is the Slowest Train In India? It is "Nilgiri Mountain Railway" or "Mettupalayam to Ooty Passenger Train", which is also called the “Toy Train”.This 46-km-long route is full of natural beauty, and everyone can enjoy the beauty of nature