The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has announced special toy train services for the upcoming Durga Puja festival. These special runs will begin on October 1, 2026, to give tourists better chances to enjoy the heritage railway and the scenic hills.
The railway will run four single-trip joyrides between Darjeeling and Ghum using diesel engines. The proposed fare for this trip is ₹800 per passenger.
Two round-trip special services will also operate between Kurseong and Mahanadi. The steam-hauled Red Panda train will run between Kurseong and Mahanadi with a fare of ₹1,530. Another round-trip service named Mukta Dhara will use a diesel engine and cost ₹1,030 per passenger.
The Mukta Dhara service honors Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore because the route passes the Paglajhora waterfall that inspired his play. A special run of this train is planned for late September at Mahanadi Railway Station during the Station Mahotsav.
Railway officials confirmed that these services connect the heritage railway with the cultural and literary history of the region. The extra joyrides aim to boost tourism during the festive season, following official announcements made on August 25 and 26, 2026.
