The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway will run a special toy train service between Ghoom and Darjeeling stations on April 3, ferrying around 160 delegates who will come for the G20 meets.

From April 1 to April 3, G20 meets would be held in Siliguri and Darjeeling.

“Keeping in mind the upcoming G20 meets, we have made arrangements for a oneway special joy ride for the delegates from Ghoom to Darjeeling. Three or four trains would be arranged for them for the 12km ride so that they can experience the heritage mountain railway,” said DHR director Priyansh.

Established back in 1881, DHR was recognised as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1999.

Sources in Northeast Frontier Railway — the railway zone under which DHR functions — said that as the toy train service was a key tourist attraction of the region, they wanted to showcase it before foreign and Indian delegates.

“The tourism potential of the region will be highlighted during the G20 meets. That’s why we thought of promoting the toy train along with other attractions such as heritage stations, tracks and the landscape,” said a railway official.

Delegates will ascend to the hills in cars. They will stop at Ghoom where arrangements will be made for a cultural event. The delegates will visit the railway museum and board the toy train.

“On way to Darjeeling, the toy train will halt at Batasia Loop,” the official added.

In Darjeeling, delegates will attend a special lunch at Raj Bhavan, followed by a cultural event at Chowrasta. They will descend from the hills the same day.

In Siliguri, a meeting will be held at a private resort on the outskirts of Siliguri. The state departments of tourism and information and cultural affairs will display tourist destinations, tea and other natural resources of the region at the venue.