Christmas, New Year tourist rush on mind, railways to start special holiday train to Himachal capital Shimla
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The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: A special holiday train consisting of seven coaches will run on the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO world heritage track for Christmas and New Year.
The northern railway zone is gearing up to commence operations from December 24 till January 25. The railway management is currently finalising the schedule for the holiday special train.
Following a decline in rail travel due to the recent rain disaster, there has been a resurgence in passenger numbers after Durga Puja. Tourists from Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi are flocking to Shimla, resulting in fully occupied trains from Kalka to Shimla.
However, the number of passengers travelling in the opposite direction from Shimla to Kalka remains comparatively low.
Thousands of tourists are expected to arrive in Shimla to celebrate Christmas and New Year, prompting the annual operation of holiday special trains to cater to the increased demand. This surge in tourism during the festive season is anticipated to positively impact the local tourism business.
At present six trains are operating on the Kalka-Shimla railway line. The first train from Kalka to Shimla is 52457, departure at 3.45 am, while 52458 train departs from Kalka at 10.55 am. The train 04506 train leaves at 4.45 am and in return, 04505 train leaves Shimla for Kalka at 2.15 pm.
The train 52451 from Kalka departs at 5.45 am and return train 52452 departs at 5.25 pm. The train 52453 departs at 6.20 am and the return train 52454 starts at 5.45 pm. The train 52459 departs at 7 am and return train 52460 leaves from Shimla to Kalka at 3.50 pm. Train 52455 departs at 12.10 pm and in return, train 52456 departs from Shimla at 6.30 pm.
