Darjeeling toy train turns 145; DHR announces heritage restoration plan
Times of India | 5 July 2026
Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will restore all its heritage station buildings and structures to their original architectural form. It is also collaborating with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to minimise monsoon disruptions caused by landslides along NH-110.
The announcement came as the UNESCO World Heritage mountain railway marked its 145th anniversary on Saturday.
DHR director Rishav Choudhary said the restoration will be guided by ASI-empanelled architects. “The heritage stations and buildings will be restored on an ‘as it was’ basis. Detailed project reports will be prepared by these specialists,” Choudhary said during the Toy Train Day celebrations at Sukna Railway Station.
The DHR is focusing on safety where tracks run parallel to NH-110. “We are in touch with NHIDCL. Certain portions are maintained by DHR while others fall under them. We will work in close coordination to make the highway less landslide-prone and ensure minimum disruption to operations,” he added.
Safety measures have also been tightened where trains share space with road traffic, resulting in zero major accidents over the past two years. “There have been a few minor instances of trains coming into slight contact with vehicles, but no injuries,” Choudhary said. In congested areas like Kurseong, guards walk ahead of locomotives to alert pedestrians and motorists.
Choudhary revealed that the DHR recorded a historic revenue of Rs 4 crore in June 2026, up from Rs 3.3 crore last year. “This is the highest consecutive revenue earned in the history of the mountain railway. It reflects growing global appeal and improved operational efficiency under the Northeast Frontier Railway,” he said.
The DHR was established in 1879, reached Darjeeling in 1881, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Dec 5, 1999.