Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), fondly called as Toy Train, runs between New Jalpaiguri in the plains and Darjeeling Hills, atop 6000 ft high, has recorded remarkable earnings in May, for this financial year 2022-23, officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway revealed on Tuesday.
The two-foot gauge train, which shuttles about 80 km (160 km both ways) has recorded the highest ever monthly revenue generation of nearly Rs 3.20 crore against the expenditure of Rs 2.75 crore during May 2022, chief public relations officer Sabyasachi De said.
” It was approximately 54 percent higher than the earlier highest of Rs 2.07 crore in May 2018-19,” he added.
Till May 2022 this financial year, the DHR has earned more than Rs 4.73 crore while the annual expense was at around Rs 4.53 crore during this period.
The increased earning was achieved because of the introduction of more joyride services for the tourists visiting this eastern Himalaya.
Huge footfall during this peak season of tourist flow in the section and growth in the passenger traffic led to a rise in the earnings, De maintained.
The DHR, which was founded in 1879, is a UNESCO-approved heritage for its Victorian era of engineering marvels.
Covid pandemic had affected DHR adversely in a big way as its revenue took a dip in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The train services oÂn DHR remained suspended from 22nd March to 24th December of 2020 and 16th May to 15th August of 2021 and from 15th January to 15th February of 2022.
Presently, there is a daily service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and 12 Joy Ride services between Darjeeling and Ghum in the DHR.
Among these, four Joy Ride services are pulled by steam locomotives while the other eight by diesel locomotives.
The DHR also introduced special services like Steam Jungle Tea Safari, Red Panda, Him Kanya, etc. Charter Trains, Special Film Shooting Trains, and Heritage Dining cars are also attractive services being offered in the DHR.
During this period, DHR managed to offer the highest ever daily seats of more than 1000 to meet tourist demand.
Several initiatives have also been taken for the promotion of DHR in the country and abroad. Darjeeling station is being upgraded with new features like heritage-type windows, Kanchenjunga viewpoint, etc.
Up gradation of Ghum station is also under process.
Partnering with stakeholders, tour operators, cultural groups, local population, etc. is being done regularly to preserve its conservation and promote heritage value.
