Ambala division’s Christmas & New Year Gift to Passengers: ‘Him Darshan Express’

The train fare has been kept very nominal at Rs 630 per passenger per single journey

Ambala : With modern Vistadome coaches (Glass Roof Top) ‘Him Darshan Express’ started its services on the eve of Christmas day, 25th December, 2019 between Kalka-Shimla UNESCO World Heritage section over Ambala Division of Northern Railway.

The train runs with six modern and swanky first class AC Vistadome coaches for excellent panoramic view to the passengers.

This train no. 52459/52460 named as ‘Him Darshan Express’ makes this Christmas celebration more special by introducing experience of modern first class AC (EV- Executive Vistadome) coaches.

On first day, The ‘Him Darshan Express’ registered ‘100% occupancy’ as total 90 passengers boarded the train from Kalka railway station at 7:00 hrs and they reached Shimla railway station at 12:55 hrs.

In the able guidance of Divisional Railway Manger Gurinder Mohan Singh, Ambala division could be able to start such type of first train over Indian Railways and with all see-through coaches for which tickets can be booked on individual charter tariff basis through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) as well as other online modes.

The initiative was envisaged keeping the view of the importance of Kalka-Shimla railway section which is one among the five Hill Railways available in India i.e. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Kangra Valley Railway, Matheran Hill Railway and Kalka-Shimla Railway which is very popular among the tourists and tourist come to visit shimla throughout the year.

Moreover it would also be pertinent to mention that KSR section is in UNESCO’s world heritage list with Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

On the day, previous occasion of first run of this train, all the boarded passengers were welcomed by distributing rose buds, sweets and chocolates.

In the return direction, this train leave Shimla railway station at 15:50 hrs and reach Kalka railway station at 21:15 hrs. En-route in both the directions, the train will halt at Barog railway station at 09:02 hrs and 19:02 hrs respectively.

Each of the Vistadome coaches has the capacity of carrying 15 passengers comprising several modern facilities like, two air conditioners, wider UPVC windows, window roller blinds as well as honeycomb blinds, adjustable/reversible seats for passengers to have enhanced experience of site-seeing from inside the train, modular type switches and sockets for LED lightings and gadgets charging, modernized toilets with western-style commode with water jet, wash basin, liquid soap container, steel dustbin, odour freshener container, toilet paper roll, etc.

The train fare has been kept very nominal at Rs 630 per passenger per single journey. However, no concession has been permitted on tickets booked for Vistadome.