The Nilgiri Mountain Express, which runs from Mettupalayam station in Tamil Nadu to Udhagamandalam (Ooty) station, travels through Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and Udhagamandalam, while finding its way to the final destination.
Published: November 9, 2025 10:14 AM IST
India features a vast railway system, providing train service from the mountains to the deserts, across thick forests, and even over the sea. Some trains are known for their speed, while some are known for moving at a snail’s pace. While there are discussions about introducing bullet trains and hyperloop trains, there are also trains that are known for moving slowly. The remarkable part is that these trains are always full of passengers. Today, we will talk about India’s slowest trains.
This train is known for its slow speed and holds the distinction of being the slowest train in India. It is slow enough that it takes 5 hours to cover a distance of 46 km. According to the ZeeNews report, the train passes through the idyllic valleys of the Nilgiri hills, thick forests, waterfalls, and crosses over 16 tunnels and more than 250 bridges before reaching its destination.
This train is called the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. With all this said, the train is packed with passengers despite the slower pace. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway runs at 9 km per hour. To travel the 46 km distance, it takes 5 hours to complete the journey, making the trip approximately 18 times slower than the fastest train in the country. Still, traveling on this train is a relaxed and pleasant experience. Passing through mountains, forests, waterfalls, and tunnels, the train brings passengers close to nature’s beauty.
The Nilgiri Mountain Express, which runs from Mettupalayam station in Tamil Nadu to Udhagamandalam (Ooty) station, travels through Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and Udhagamandalam, while finding its way to the final destination.
This train is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, as reported by the ZeeNews Hindi report. It was inaugurated during the British period in 1899.
There is a similar train in Switzerland called the Glacier Express. Although it has “Express” in the name, the train goes very slowly, taking approximately 10 hours to wander along the 290-kilometer route, having commenced service in 1930. The Glacier Express travels through each picture-perfect valley, while going through over 90 tunnels and nearly 300 bridges.
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