Heritage value of Darjeeling's toy train to be restored: Lohani

The Railways will restore the heritage value of the century-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), widely known as toy train, Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani has said.

He said new coaches would be added to the toy train which climbs 2,000 metres from the plains of New Jalpaiguri and air-conditioned coaches would also be introduced.

"This is an important line for us. It is a world heritage site. We know its importance. It is familiar to tourists around the world," Lohani told reporters here yesterday.

About the damage caused to Sonada and Gayabari stations during the Gorkhaland agitation last year, the railway board chairman said that he will inspect it.

"We will restore the heritage value of the toy train. We will also study what is now lacking in this line and we will try to improve it," Lohani said, adding the DHR was the first in India to get the world heritage tag.

UNESCO had awarded the DHR a world heritage status in 1999.

The Railways would lay emphasis on reviving the steam engines which were very popular among the tourists, Lohani said.

Informing the mediapersons that the Railways would introduce packages for the toy train service, he said people can charter the train.

Built between 1879 and 1881, with zigzags and five loops, the DHR is about 88-km long and is a top draw for tourists.