Top News

There is no place in Shailshahr Dasha Toytrain! Long waiting list, ticket sales surpass 5-year record
Sandy Verma | June 14, 2026 12:24 AM CST

Toytrain’s victory in the ride! Monsoon started in the north, but the scorching heat in the plains has not reduced so much. Shail city is now the focus of most of the tourists to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Naturally, the demand for Toytrain tickets for traveling to Darjeeling has peaked. The ticket sales in May this year broke the five-year record. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) authorities expect the revenue to be more than 370 lakhs in June as well. In view of the increased demand, the Railways has also arranged several additional services including night joyrides. According to DHR sources, 13 toy trains are running in the hills every day due to increased demand. Out of them 9 are diesel powered and 4 are traditional steam powered engines. Each train is so overcrowded that an average of 20 to 25 tourists per day are forced to wait on the waiting list.

Shail city is now the focus of most of the tourists to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Naturally, the demand for Toytrain tickets for traveling to Darjeeling has peaked. The ticket sales in May this year broke the five-year record.

Joy Ride Toytrain departs from Darjeeling station and goes to Ghum, the highest railway station in the country via Batasia Loop. It comes back the same way. The journey is about 14 km. But it takes two hours to cross the winding path through the fog at a dizzying pace. Eight to eighty tourists are waiting for the joy ride of this toy train. Chief Public Relations Officer of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Kopinjal Kishore Sharma said that the demand for tickets is very high this time. So it seems that ticket sales will continue in June as well as in May. Looking at the booking trend, it seems that the income will be more than 370 lakhs in June as well.

According to the sources of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the income in May 2022 was 319 lakh 64 thousand taka. In 2023, the income increased to 358 lakh 18 thousand taka. But in 2024 the income decreased to 288 lakh 58 thousand taka. In 2025, the income will increase to 358 lakh 60 thousand taka. In May 2026, the record income increased to 395 lakh 60 thousand taka. If the income exceeds 370 lakhs in June, it will also be a new record. This time, from the summer season to the beginning of the monsoon, tourists continue to flock to the mountains. The demand for Joy Ride tickets is also high. Therefore Darjeeling Himalayan Railway authorities suggest that if you want to travel by toy train, it is better to book tickets in advance. The reason for such advice is that the railway authorities have noticed the regret and upset of tourists who did not get a taste of the Heritage Joy Ride. For that reason, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway authorities have started a big plan to run ‘special service’ or special toy trains during the holidays. Director of DHR Rishabh Chowdhury said that every train is full of tourists. Demand for toytrains is high during the current tourist season. Many are not getting tickets.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK