The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will have to operate more services to increase its earnings this year.

In the first six months of 2024, the mountain railway earned ₹12.75 crore and ferried 1,04,848 passengers on toy trains.

The revenue is low compared to the same period last year. In the January-June period of 2023, the hill railway earned ₹13.46 crore and carried 1,11,541 passengers. The trips included joy rides between Darjeeling and Ghum stations and the regular services between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.

The DHR is a Unesco-recognised world heritage site and a prime attraction for tourists visiting the Darjeeling hills.

Railway officials cited several reasons for the decline in the number of passengers.

The chief public relations officer (CPRO) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Sabyasachi De, said: “The turnout of passengers was a bit lower during April and May because of the general election.”

The DHR services had started in the hills in 1881. Over the past few years, the railways took several initiatives, including the introduction of new services, planning a railway museum in Ghum and hosting annual fests, to popularise toy trains among tourists.

Another NHR official pointed out that earlier, steam locos used to haul three coaches for each joy ride.

“But now, only two coaches are hauled by the steam locos for each ride. That is why the number of passengers is comparatively lower,” he said.

The drop in the revenue has left railway officials worried because Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced in 2021 a plan to monetise national assets, including the DHR.

The decision had left toy train lovers and hill residents disgruntled. They said the heritage railway should be kept out of the plan and conserved.

“We are making plans to bridge the revenue deficit and ensure that by the end of this year, the earnings remain steady and will try to ensure that the earnings are higher than last year,” said an official.

The plans include the introduction of more special toy trains during the peak tourism season, particularly during Durga Puja and Divali.

“Also, we are exploring non-fare revenue models like opening up restaurants on old DHR coaches. Also, we will soon open a DHR museum in Ghum with added attractions like audio-description of different articles,” the CPRO said.

Those associated with the tourism industry said they always asked railway officials to take initiatives to improve the services of the heritage railway and to conserve it.

“The DHR authorities should simultaneously improve the services and focus on upgrading its existing infrastructure while keeping intact its heritage status,” said Debasish Chakraborty, general secretary of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association.