Going to Darjeeling on the Toy Train? This 146-year-old station has been recreated with a new attraction passengers won’t want to miss

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has recreated the historic Sukna railway station as part of efforts to preserve and promote the heritage of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) Toy Train. The move comes amid record passenger footfall on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountain railway, with the railway zone also introducing tourist-focused initiatives at the station. The milestone was marked with cultural celebrations at Sukna station, including a ceremonial cake-cutting, followed by traditional Nepali folk dance and musical performances.

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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway gets new photo gallery

Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Chetan Kumar Srivastava inaugurated a photo gallery featuring historic photographs of the DHR Toy Train.


Each photograph in the gallery has been provided with a QR code, allowing visitors to access information about the image and learn more about the history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

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Speaking exclusively to ANI, Srivastava said the heritage railway has been attracting more passengers, prompting the authorities to explore ways to make the experience more appealing to tourists.

"Every year, the traffic is increasing, and this year, we have witnessed record-breaking footfall. We are taking all necessary measures to make the DHR Toy Train more attractive," Srivastava told ANI.

Darjeeling Toy Train to get additional services for Durga Puja

The railway is also preparing for an increase in tourist traffic during Durga Puja, one of Bengal's biggest festivals.

"Ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Bengal, the authorities will operate additional train services to cater to the festive rush and ensure a smooth experience for Toy Train lovers," the General Manager added.

The DHR currently operates eight pairs of daily joy-ride services, which are particularly popular with tourists travelling between Darjeeling and Ghoom.

In addition, two direct services connect New Jalpaiguri station with Darjeeling.

What makes Darjeeling Himalayan Railway special?

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was built between 1879 and 1881 and stretches for 88 km. The two-foot (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway is known for its engineering techniques, including zig-zag reverses and loops that allow trains to navigate steep mountain gradients.

The railway climbs from an altitude of around 100 metres at New Jalpaiguri to approximately 2,200 metres at Darjeeling.

Its combination of historic locomotives, mountain landscapes and distinctive engineering has made the DHR a major tourist attraction.

DHR Toy Train is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO inscribed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999.

The designation recognises the railway as an outstanding example of an innovative transportation system developed to operate through rugged and mountainous terrain.

The recreation of Sukna station and the new tourist-focused initiatives are part of NFR's efforts to preserve the heritage character of the DHR while improving the experience for visitors travelling on the iconic Toy Train.


Inputs from agencies