Northern Railways has introduced heritage rail line service between Kalka and Shimla in the list of UNESCO World heritage passing through as many as 102 tunnels and 891 bridges on 96 km route failed to bring revenue to the government in spite of heavy in-flow of tourists due to administrative control over heritage rail lines in the country direct under the charge of government in the centre.
Railways Ministry in a letter dated March 28, 2018 directed all divisional heads to control and take all decisions for the visiting passengers on the route to enable handsome earnings and take independent decisions during the season. DRM Ambala Dinesh Chander Sharma told media persons that Kalka-Shimla rail heritage line would be an earning project in approaching summer season for which 112 years old historic steam engines was arrived at Kaithlighat railway station in March last year. A successful trial was made with as many as 23 tourists from Britain in three bogies attached to steam engine covering 22 km distance to and fro
According to a railway spokesperson, first train on the rail track between Kalka and Shimla was started on November 9, 1903 with the help of steam engine till the year 1970 later replaced with diesel engine. Information also reveals that film unit from Bollywood too conducted film shooting on the rail track between Kalka and Shimla, which include shooting of Shammi Kapoor’s film ‘Boyfriend’ in 1960. Preeti Ginta’s film ‘Kaya Kehna’ was also shooted on this rail track in 2000 followed by Karina Kapoor’s film ‘Jab We Met’. It is hoped that with this decision taken by Railways Ministry DRMs would constitute affordable scheme to attract tourists and make heritage travelling revenue earning project for the railways.
DRM Ambala told media persons that first time on this track a special service has been introduced for the tourists in which the passengers may be able to travel between Kalka and Shimla on a single ticket on which they may drop at any station on the way, enjoy sight seeing in the area and travel in next train on the same ticket on the train having 16 halts on 96 km rail track between Kalka and Shimla at Taksal, Ghumman, Koti, Sanwara, Dharampur, Badog, Kumarhatti, Dagshai, Sanawar, Solan, Salogada, Kandaghat, Kanoha, Kaithlighat, Shoghi, Tara Devi, Jatog and Samarhil.
For the reservation of ticket the passenger would have to produce a identity card including Aadhar Card, Voter Card, copy of Passport, Pan Card, government ID, Student Identity Card, Pass Book of a Nationalized Bank Account carrying photograph and Driving License. DRM told that Union Railway Minister Piyush Goel also inspected this historic monument last year and assured to provide all comforts to the tourists on this rail track including Wi-Fi service for on-line calling, video conference service in view of poor mobile network in hilly areas available at all railway 18 stoppages on the way between Kalka and Shimla.
