Change is always imminent. Some changes are for good while some may not be liked. Last week, a rail line and train service thereon, which came into being in 1930 and became a regular one in 1936 was terminated. It performed its last journey from Mavli Jn to Marwar Jn on 26 April.

The lone Meter Gauge service, which was in existence in Rajasthan since 1930 is history now. This rail line commenced from the plains of Mewar from Mavli Jn and it slowly used to enter the Aravali hills from Nathdwara Road station onwards in its furtherance of journey used to pass through Raoli-Tatgarh sanctuary in the district of Rajsamand and Pali. A landscape par excellence between Khamlighat to Fulad via Goramghat.

In the last phase of its journey, the train used to take a U-turn from Fulad and proceed to Marwar Jn in the desert of Rajasthan. Two regions wide apart geographically but used to connect two formerly princely states of Mewar and Marwar. The train is now history but has left behind everlasting memory in the minds of people, who ever traveled on this route. Initially, the train used to connect Udaipur and Jodhpur covering a distance of 256km, but with the gauge conversions, the service remained between Mavli Jn and Marwar Jn covering a distance of 151 Km.

In the era of fast trains like Vande-Bharat, Rajdhani, Duranto, and many more, this train and route became a heritage one. However, the transformation is knocking on the door and gauge conversation to take place between Nathdwara and Deogarh and further from Devgarh to Haripur lying on Marwar Jn and Beawar. The progression made may be welcomed by one and all but in the bargain, the passengers would miss the scenic beauty between Khamlighat to Fulad forever.  The only consolation is that on this heritage route, a tourist train between Marwar Jn and Khamlighat would continue. It would be more prudent to run the heritage train from Marwar Jn to Deogarh, which would provide better connectivity to the passengers.

On its last chugging, the train (09695 Passenger) was delayed at every stop since the locals felicitated the rail officials, the rail engine and showed gratitude towards this service, which is history now.  The presence of trains in this Zone is as old as Railways Act (Circa 1889).