The Hindu : Front Page : Now charter a whole train from Kalka to Shimla

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 19, 2005

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Now charter a whole train from Kalka to Shimla

Sandeep Joshi

VINTAGE RAILWAY: The 1905 steam engine running on the Kalka-Shimla track. - FILE PHOTO

NEW DELHI: In a move that could give a fillip to the tourism sector in the picturesque hill State of Himachal Pradesh, Northern Railway has decided to run a chartered train service on the historic Kalka-Shimla section that celebrated its centenary a couple of years ago. Under the scheme, any individual or company can charter a train comprising three coaches with a capacity to accommodate three-dozen passengers.

To cover the 96.6 km long route starting from the Shivalik foothills at Kalka and passing through the magnificent Himalayas, it has been decided to run the special hill train with diesel as well as a 1905 steam engine having heritage status. During their journey the tourists will have the choice to decide the toy train's stoppage time at each station. However, they will have to stick to the stipulated total time for the journey.

The diesel charter service, with two air-conditioned coaches and a general coach, will run on the Shimla-Kalka-Shimla section and a single trip would cost Rs.34,580, whereas Rs.73,988 would be charged for a round trip. The steam charter service will run on the Shimla-Kathlighat-Shimla section and the booking cost for a single trip on this section would be Rs.27,848 whereas a round trip would cost Rs.58,808. The charter rates are valid up to March 31 next year. Built way back in 1903 to connect the summer capital of India, Shimla, to the rest of the country during the British Raj, the hill railway track's highest point is at an altitude of 2,076 metres and it passes through 103 tunnels, with the longest tunnel of 1.01 km being at Barog. Over 70 per cent of the track is in curves, offering a panoramic view of the Himalayas to travellers.

The track passes through several places of tourist interests including Dharampur, Solan, Kathlighat, Taradevi, Barog, Salogra and Summer Hill before reaching Shimla. The Indian Railways have been trying hard to attain heritage status for this historic section from UNESCO after getting this honour for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the world's first ever hill railway built in 1888.

According to senior Northern Railway officials, the marketing plans of the chartered service are being handled by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), while the Railway Ministry in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Government is trying to introduce special tour packages for tourists keen to board the special chartered train.

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