Train service on the UNESCO world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line resumed completely nearly three months after it was damaged due to floods in August. The first toy train departed after almost three months on Monday. Tourists were enthralled to travel as regular train service resumed.
A tourist from Kochi, Kerala, Shobha told ANI, "We are delighted. The toy train is very interesting. Sightseeing was a good experience." Another tourist from Kolkata, West Begal Smriti said, "It was a good experience. The journey was good. I would urge people to visit here. They should take the toy train, and more tourism can help Himachal recover quicker."
A woman travelling from Spain named Elsa, has been in India for a week said, "It is really nice. It is different from Europe but very enjoyable...It is perfect now. There were still some workers but it was good."
The local residents were also delighted as the train resumed after the damages caused due to the floods. The local councillor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Virendra Thakur from Summerhill ward said that it was a tough time and now this train would be easy for locals and revive the tourism business in the region.
"It will definitely help the tourism business in the days to come. The railways have restored the bridge but still, the electricity supply on the streets of this area needs to be restored,” he added.
The train services on the Kalka-Shimla heritage line were stopped on July 7 after the track was damaged at various locations in Solan and Shimla. However, two trains were resumed on September 26 till Taradevi.
Earlier this week, Randhir Singh, Senior Section Engineer Northern Railway told ANI, that successful trials were carried out on the bridge which collapsed on August 14. The restoration work began on August 26 after the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was done carrying out rescue work.
The track was put to test on Monday which declared fit for plying of heritage toy trains successfully. Railway officials completed a trial run from Kalka to Shimla Railway Station on Monday.
Reportedly, a 7.39 meter long bridge has been erected on the affected portion above Shiv baudi of summer hill in Shimla. The bridge was installed in only 16 days by around 200 workers and engineers from Delhi, Ambala and Jalandhar. The train services had resumed up to Taradevi Railway Station from Kalka last week.
The Kalka Shimla railway line was declared UNESCO's world heritage line in 2008. It has been a great tourist attraction after these tourists would rush through this train in the hills. The first train arrived in Shimla on November 9, 1903, all the steam engine run trains used to come here until 1970, and after 1970, all trains were being run through the diesel engine.