The regular passenger train service along the narrow gauge route of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to Darjeeling will run on alternate days during the next 12 days, officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said on Friday.

“Because of certain operational reasons, it has been decided that the toy train service from NJP to Darjeeling and vice-versa will run on alternate days from today (Friday) till July 1,” said an official of the NFR.

Every day, a pair of trains runs between these two destinations. Along with tourists, locals also use the train service to reach different locations in the hills.

Sources in DHR said the decision has been taken to run additional joy rides, a return trip between Darjeeling and Ghum railway stations. It is the most popular toy train service for tourists traveling in the hills.

“Considering the demand for tickets, we are running 11 joy ride services now, where coaches are hauled by steam locos and diesel locos. But the regular passenger services are operated only by the diesel locos. As some of the diesel locos are under maintenance, we have decided to run the service on alternate days as the number of joy rides can’t be reduced now,” the source added.