RAILWAY: DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY LAUNCHES 6 NEW TOY TRAIN JOYRIDES FOR FESTIVE SEASON RUSH

TTT NEWS NETWORK

DARJEELING | 3 OCTOBER 2026

In a major boost for festive travellers, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has announced six new special joyride services to accommodate the massive influx of tourists expected during the upcoming Puja holiday season. The initiative aims to ease the heavy rush and ensure that travellers visiting the hills do not face ticket shortages.

According to Kishore Sharma, the Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, these additional services have been introduced to give more tourists the opportunity to experience the scenic beauty of the mountains.

The expanded schedule features four new round trips powered by diesel engines, operating on the popular route between Darjeeling and Ghum stations. The ticket price for these specific tours has been set at Rs.800.

Additionally, the DHR is introducing two special round trips between Kurseong and Mahanadi:

• The ‘Red Panda’ Special: A heritage steam-engine-driven train that departs from Kurseong at 9:30 AM and returns from Mahanadi at 12:00 PM. The fare for this premium ride is Rs.1,530.
• The ‘Muktadhara’ Special: A diesel-powered round trip that leaves Kurseong at 3:00 PM and begins its return journey from Mahanadi at 4:00 PM. Tickets for this service are priced at Rs.1,030.

To smoothly manage the increased frequency of these joyrides and existing services like the Jungle Safari, the railway authorities are also actively addressing driver shortages. The DHR currently operates with a pool of 70 drivers to keep the popular mountain railway running seamlessly through the peak tourism season.

Ahead of the upcoming festive season, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has officially launched a recruitment drive for new train drivers to support its expanding joyride services without overburdening current staff.

According to DHR Director Rishav Choudhury, the entire hiring process is expected to be completed within one to two and a half months. A diesel engine joyride currently requires a crew of two personnel, while a traditional steam engine requires four operators. To prevent operational fatigue and ensure smooth transitions when new services roll out, the railway currently maintains a baseline of at least 15 active drivers.

Officials state that the combination of additional joyride services and reinforced staffing is set to significantly elevate mountain tourism during the peak festival holidays.