Puja travellers will now get a chance to enjoy breathtaking views during their journey up Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri in north Bengal with the introduction of a Vistadome coach and a restaurant car in a tri-weekly train which started on September 26.
According to a senior railway official, the introduction of the new train of the heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) before Durga Puja and Diwali is expected to boost tourism in the hills.
The train, run by the North Frontier Railway (NFR), will traverse about 88km to reach the Queen of Hills from New Jalpaiguri in the plains.
The train has a Vistadome coach offering great views on the meandering tracks and a restaurant car that will serve an array of food and beverages said Anshul Gupta, general manager, NFR.
Union minister of state for minority affairs John Barla flagged off the new train in the presence of the NFR general manager and other senior officials.
The train will run on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from New Jalpaiguri and on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Darjeeling, the official said.
The toy train service between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri, which was temporarily closed owing to a landslide between Rongtong and Tindharia, also resumed on Monday.
“The service covering Darjeeling, Ghoom and Batasia Loop was, however, running as per schedule,” an NFR official said.
Describing the introduction of the new train as a positive step, DHR India support group secretary general Raj Basu said: “The heritage toy train, Kanchenjunga, and tea are the main attractions of tourism in Darjeeling hills.”
He added that the bookings of hotels and homestays in the hills being full this Puja season after two years of Covid-19 pandemic-related restrictions, the tourism sector, as well as the tourists, will be benefitted from the introduction of the new train.
