Record earnings for Darjeeling toy train

Attractive facilities provided post-pandemic to increase tourist footfalls, Northeast Frontier Railway says

Attractive facilities helped increase tourist footfall, says Northeast Frontier RailwaySpecial Arrangement

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has recorded its highest ever monthly revenue generation.

The 141-year-old mountain railway system connecting New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal is under the Guwahati-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

The NFR officials said the DHR earned Rs. 3.20 crore against an expenditure of Rs. 2.75-crore in May. The revenue collected was 54% more than the earlier highest of Rs. 2.07 crore in May 2018.

“The increase in earnings was because of more joyride services,” said NFR spokesperson Sabyasachi De.

The earnings of the DHR, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had taken a dip due to the pandemic.

The NFR currently operates a daily service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and 12 joyride services between Darjeeling and Ghum.

The DHR also introduced special services such as Steam Jungle Tea Safari, Red Panda and Him Kanya. Its special services include charter trains, special film shooting trains, and a heritage dining experience.