Toy Train Services Suspended in Darjeeling Due to Heavy Rain

Darjeeling, 20 July 2023: In a recent development, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) section of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has suspended its toy train services until August 31. This decision comes in response to the ongoing monsoon rains in the region. Sabyasachi De, the Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR, confirmed that the suspension includes three steam joy rides and one diesel joy ride, starting from July 20 to August 31.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is renowned for offering the best toy train experience in India. This charming railway line attracts numerous tourists with its fascinating journey through the picturesque hills of the Himalayas on narrow-gauge toy trains.

The suspended toy train route runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, passing through scenic areas such as Siliguri and Kurseong. Notable highlights of this train ride include hilly loops and crossing five bridges and over 500 smaller bridges along its route.

During the peak season, the DHR typically conducts 20 train rides, catering to the number of tourists visiting the region. On the Darjeeling-to-Ghum route, there are 18 rides available from 7:40 AM to 4:30 PM. Tourists have the option to choose between a steam engine or diesel engine train, with two first-class cabins available in the steam engine and three in the diesel engine.

As for ticket prices, a toy train ride in Darjeeling costs approximately INR 805 per head for diesel engine rides and INR 1405 per head for steam engine rides.

Tourists planning to experience the delightful toy train rides in Darjeeling will have to wait until the end of August, when the services are set to resume, subject to weather conditions and safety assessments by the railway authorities.

The NFR, operating in the northeastern states and seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of north Bihar, assures that the temporary suspension is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers during the monsoon period.