Kalka-Shimla train service resumes after five days

The Kalka-Shimla toy train service, which was disrupted for the past five days as a result of de-launching and launching of the girder of bridge No. 800 located between Jatogh and Summer Hill stations on the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge section, resumed today.

During the past five days, the train service was only available from Kalka up to the Taradevi railway station, about 6 km from the state’s capital, thus causing inconveniences to commuters, who then had to rely on local transportation facilities to reach Shimla.

As per the officials of the Northern Railways, Ambala division, the repair of bridge No. 800 has been completed. A locomotive test was conducted successfully on the bridge on Tuesday during which the bridge was found fit for service.

The bridge was damaged by a cloudburst and severe flooding triggered by torrential heavy rain on August 14, 2023. The bridge was then reconstructed through the dedicated efforts of the Shimla team and the Bridge Line Unit.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway, a 96.6 km narrow-gauge line constructed during the British era, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The track has as many as 107 tunnels and 864 bridges and provide a scenic and memorable journey. Every day, hundreds of tourists and locals board trains plying on the railway track to reach Shimla from Kalka as well as from Shimla to Kalka to experience the natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Tribune