There are plans for a toy train trip to the mountains during Puja holidays! Afraid to get a ticket or not! But know the good news. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has announced the launch of six new joyrides on the hill, keeping in mind the rush of tourists during the Puja season. Therefore, the railway authorities think that there will not be much problem in getting tickets.
Kopinjal Kishore Sharma, chief public relations officer of North-East Frontier Railway, said that the additional initiative is to give tourists an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the mountains. The new service includes four round trip joyrides powered by diesel engines between Darjeeling and Ghum stations. The recommended fare for the tour is eight hundred rupees.
On the other hand, two special round trips are being launched between Karshiang and Mahanadi. Among these, the first steam engine powered trip called 'Red Panda' will leave Karshiang at 9 am and return from Mahanadi at 10 am. Rent 1 thousand 530 taka. The second diesel powered round trip 'Mukt Dhara' will leave Karshiang at 3.30 pm and return from Mahanadi at 4.00 pm. Rent 1 thousand 30 taka. Meanwhile, as joyrides are being increased during the tourist season, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Authority has planned to meet the shortage of train drivers. Now the toy train has 70 drivers. They handle various services including seven joyrides, jungle safaris.
It is learned that a diesel engine requires two drivers and a steam engine requires four drivers to run the joyride. Therefore, the process of recruiting at least 15 drivers has already started so that there is no pressure on the staff when the new service is launched. Director of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Rishabh Chowdhury said that the process of recruiting new drivers will be completed within one to one and a half months. Hill tourism will get a new dimension during the festival days with new joyrides and recruitment of staff.