The first ever evening daily UNESCO World Heritage DHR toy train hauled by Steam engine has been introduced, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials said on Monday.
“This will provide an opportunity to tourists stopping for a short stay at Siliguri area to experience the UNESCO World Heritage DHR toy train during second half of the day. The UP Steam evening safari will leave Siliguri at 15-00 hrs to reach Rongtong at 16-20 hrs with 10 minute stoppage at Sukna for visiting the museum,” NFR Chief PRO Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.
“The evening special will start from Rongtong at 16-45 hrs after refreshment for tourist and engine reversal. There will be one Dining car and one First class coach. The seating capacity of the Dining car is 12 and that of the first class is 17. The up and down fare for journey by First class is Rs. 1000.00 only and in the Dining car Rs. 1200.00 only. The train will have onboard catering service like snacks, tea and other ready to serve items on payment basis,” he said.
Manual booking of full journey tickets for round trips can be made at the originating station. Ticket for one way journey is not issued.
It may be mentioned here that, to provide tourist with more and more facilities; Vistadome coaches and AC coaches were also introduced in DHR by NF Railway. “A First class AC coach has been added in DHR few months back. This is the first instance in India of a narrow gauge railways having air-conditioned coach. The first class AC coaches have bigger and wider windows so that visitors can have better view, a music system that plays local music or radio, ergonomic and comfortable seats, a new improved design toilet, emergency battery back-up and announcement system,” Sharma said.
“Similarly, one of the stand-out features of the Vistadome coach is the transparent glass roof to enable the passengers to get a panoramic view of their journey. The Vistadome coach can accommodate 40 people. All the seats in the Vistadome coaches are rotatable with pushback chairs. The coaches also boast other features like automatic sliding compartment doors, multiple television screens providing infotainment to passengers; wide side door for Divyangs, GPS based info system, LED lights and more,” he added.
It may be mentioned here that the Railway Ministry has already given more powers to Divisional Railway Managers and Directors of the five iconic Heritage Hill Railways of Indian Railways for enhancing their tourist potential and scientific preservation.