3 new toy trains on Kalka-shimla route
NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways is set to deploy three new toy trains on the Kalka-shimla route for the first time since the service became operational 118 years ago, railways officials familiar with the development said, adding the trains will start running by the end of the year.
“Coaches of the Kalka-shimla toy trains are being made in the Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala. They will be made operational by December,” a railways official said.
The new toy trains will operate on the 96.6-km narrowgauge tracks, built by the British in 1903. German manufacturer Linke Hofmann Busch (Lhb)-deofficial,
signed coaches, which will be used on the Kalka-shimla route, are “lighter in weight, have increased codal life, better safety, higher carrying capacity and speed potential as compared to the old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) model coaches,” said the
requesting anonymity.
As many as 30 new-generation LHB coaches will be manufactured for the toy trains that use 765-mm narrow gauge, the official added. Narrow gauge tracks have less than the standard 1,435 mm width.
“The new coaches will have 180 degrees rotatable chair seats in AC coaches and flip type seating arrangement in GS coaches,” another railways official said, who also requested anonymity. “Besides, they will be equipped with CCTVS, passenger announcement system, passenger information system and sink-in LED destination board.”
A Kapurthala-based railways official said, “The three new trains in Kalka-shimla will have two emergency alarm push buttons per coach, flexible gangway, onboard Wifi for infotainment with compact modem, ergonomically designed cushioned seats besides others.”
The new trains will allow modification in seating, in case of private or group bookings.