Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Resumes Toy Train Service After Four months of Service Shutdown

Siliguri: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) resumed its regular toy train services from New Jalpaiguri station to Darjeeling on Sunday after a long suspension. 

The 87 km long service had been suspended since July 5, 2024, after a massive landslide damaged the toy train's railway tracks.

“DHR toy train services are very popular not only in India but also among International tourists. So, many trial runs are conducted on the track before starts the service following the safety of the passengers. We are going to introduce three more engines soon to start more services on the track," said Surinder Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Katihar, Northeast Frontier Railway.

World Heritage Status to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed DHR as a World Heritage site on December  5, 1999.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway said that World Heritage status was inscribed upon it for “An outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on social & economic development of a multi-cultural region, which was to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world”.

“The development of railways in the 19th century had a profound influence on social and economic developments in many parts of the world. This process is illustrated in an exceptional and seminal fashion by the DHR,” an official statement said.