Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani introduced Saturday that the mountain strains the place trains are at present pulled by diesel engines will as an alternative host steam engines. “We will also try to keep the ticket prices of these special trains economic,” Lohani instructed the National Congress of Indian Steam Railway Society, an impartial physique of fanatics of steam locomotives and railway heritage patronized by, amongst others, retired and serving railway officers . Lohani is a founding member of the society.

The 96-km Kalka-Shimla Railway line in Himachal Pradesh line is a UNESCO World Heritage website inscribed in 2008. Built in 1889, it sees regular patronage by vacationers throughout the busy season totally on its flagship Shivalik Deluxe Express for vacationers and a few passenger trains for commuters. These trains are at present hauled by diesel locomotives.

The 130-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the primary UNESCO World Heritage line of the transporter inscribed in 1999, can be present process a restoration following the Gorkhaland agitation earlier this 12 months. The 88-km line, recognized popularly as “toy train”, connects Siliguri with Darjeeling and Ghum, India’s highest station. A British B-class steam locomotive runs a particular prepare despite the fact that remainder of the service is hauled by a diesel locomotive.

The 21-km Matheran Hill Railway in Maharashtra, opened in 1907, is present process restoration following two derailments final 12 months. Full service between Matheran and Neral will resume by early subsequent 12 months and officers mentioned the steam service might be launched then.