Shimla: The Holiday Special train operating on the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla Railway will be discontinued from March 1. With the winter season coming to an end, the Railways has decided to halt its operations.
The special service was introduced on December 28 to manage the surge in tourist footfall and was scheduled to run till February 28. At present, six trains operate on the Kalka–Shimla track, but from March 1 onwards, only five trains will run. Officials at Kalka railway station said no orders have been received regarding an extension of the service.
Train number 04503 used to depart from Kalka at 12:30 pm and reach Shimla at 6:20 pm, halting at Dharampur, Barog, Solan and Kandaghat. On the return journey, train number 04504 departed from Shimla at 8:20 pm and reached Kalka at 1:10 am, with stoppages at Kandaghat, Solan, Barog and Dharampur.
The fare in the EV coach was fixed at ₹950, while first class was priced at ₹795 and second class at ₹80. Every year, hundreds of tourists travel to Shimla by train.
The toy train remains a top choice among visitors, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations. Travelling through winding hills offers a scenic experience, making it more appealing than road transport. The special train had been introduced two months ago to accommodate the festive rush and increased tourist movement on the route.
