According to the notorious newspaper of India – Hindustan Times, Indian Railway will soon deploy the 3 new Toy Trains on the Kalka-Shimla route. The decision is making everyone’s head turn with thrill. Now Delhizens or people from other regions of north India must behold the panoramic mountain scenery on wheels. You will soon access the new Toy Train ride on the Kalka-Shimla route by the end of 2022. Keep reading if you are excited to embark upon the newly added 3 new Toy Trains on this route! There is a lot to learn more about the new edition of trains.
What’s Special About Kalka-Shimla Toy Train?
The Himalayan Queen – Kalka-Shimla Toy Train has already been labeled as a UNESCO Heritage route tag in 2008. Now it’s 2022, and the Indian Railway is deploying 3 new Toy Trains on the Kalka-Shimla route as a part of the Himalayan Mountain Railway. Now, who’s stopping you from breathing the fresh mountain air coming from the Himalayas? Imagine yourself enjoying the old-world charm in the British-era narrow gauge.
When Will the Indian Railway Start New Toy Train Services on the Kalka-Shimla Route?
A few days back from the publishing date of this article (29th April 2022), Indian Railway announced they will deploy 3 new Toy Trains on the narrow-gauge Himalayan Mountain railway! However, dates are not revealed, but it is hopefully supposed to be done by the end of 2022! Indian Railways’ attempt to introduce new Toy Trains is highly appreciated as the idea came on the table after 118 years.
How Will the New Coaches Be of Kalka-Shimla’s Three New Toy Trains?
Unknown to many, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala will be the base to craft new coaches. In addition, the new Toy Train coaches will be designed by the German manufacturer – Linke Hofmann Busch. This effort of the Indian Railway will help you achieve the dream of beholding snow flaked on the tropical forests in winters and manicured greenery during summer in full throttle. Did we mention the 180-degree rotatable seats are the USP of the newly upcoming Kalka-Shimla Toy Trains?
What About Toy Train Interiors?
The interior will feature rotatable chair seats in AC coaches and a flip-type arrangement for sitting in general coaches. Alongside, you will be covered with CCTV camera monitoring for an extra layer of security. The icing on the cake is travelers will be able to ask for the last-minute modification in case of private or group bookings.
Imagine yourself sitting inside the train, witnessing pine-covered hilltops and snow-capped mountains from large windows. For summers, there will be an air-conditioned facility. Plus, expect to get covered with basic facilities like emergency alarm push buttons and passenger’s announcement systems. Additionally, the new Toy Trains on the Kalka-Shimla route will feature a sink-in-LED destination board.
History of Kalka-Shimla Toy Train
During the heydays of the British empire, they built a railway line to the Kalka-Shimla Toy Train. It was in 1903 when Britishers thought to provide access to the people to the summer capital, Shimla.
How Long Kalka-Shimla Toy Train Run: Distance and Duration
If you talk about the Kalka-Shimla track distance, it is around 96 kilometers (approx.). In addition, the average travel duration between the two is 5 hours to 7 hours. Four tourist Toy Train services run on the Kalka-Shimla railway. There are Rail Motor Car Special, Shivalik Deluxe Express, and Himalayan Queen.
How Many Tunnels, Stations, Bridges & Curves Are There?
When you sit inside the train, you pass through around 103 tunnels, 912 curves, and 864 bridges.
Anything Else?
Well, there is still time left to deploy the new Toy Trains on the Kalka Shimla route. First, you should embark upon the Vistadome coaches (if you haven’t ever been to the Toy Train). This is how you will get to distinguish the experience between the Vistadome and the newly constructed coaches that will soon be operational by the end of 2022.
Intrigued to discover Himachal Pradesh on German-designed coaches? Stay tuned for the updates on the official website of the Indian Railway!
