NJP to Darjeeling Toy Train
NJP to Darjeeling Toy Train Services
There are passenger toy train services that provide regular transport connections between the plains of Siliguri and Darjeeling. These Toy Trains are administered by Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which is part of Indian Railways.
One of the most popular toy train passenger services for tourists is the one between New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Station and Darjeeling Station (DJ). The toy train passes through picturesque mountain landscapes and villages.
The track often runs side by side the main motor road (The National Highway-110 which is popularly known as Hill Cart Road) and even crisscrosses the road several times. There are breathtaking zigzags and loops along the way to help the train negotiate steep gradients.
The passenger trains between NJP and Darjeeling are hauled by diesel engines. Originally Steam Locomotives were used for this service which took over 10 hours each way.
However, steam engines on this route have been discontinued in order to better negotiate the steep mountain gradients using diesel engines and also to save on time to travel.
Below are the current DHR Passenger Train Services (Train timings are subject to change):
NJP DJ PASSENGER 52541 (NJP to Darjeeling)
The train (no. 52541) runs daily between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. It leaves NJP at 10am and reaches Darjeeling on the same day at 5:30pm. It covers a total distance is 84kms in 7 and a half hours. It's a daily service. The return train (no. 52540) departs Darjeeling at 9am and reaches NJP on the same day at 4:30pm.
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Station Platform
Although it's supposed to take 7 & half hours to complete the one-way journey as per the published schedule, it's quite usual that the train runs late. The train departure timings also change. And on some days, the train gets cancelled, particularly if there are track damages due to landslides or other natural disasters.
Between NJP and Darjeeling, the train makes short stoppages at Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rangtong, Tindharia, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada and Ghum.
The train is hauled by a Diesel engine. It usually has one First Class coach (FC) with 17 seats, one AC Chair Car coach (CC) with 15 seats and a luggage van to store luggage of the passengers... there is practically no space to carry large suitcases or bags inside the passenger coaches, unless you can manage your bags within your leg-space.
No food is usually served on this train and you won't find any food vendors along the way. So, carry water and food. There are toilets at one end of the coaches.
NJP DJ AC PASS 52539 (NJP to Darjeeling)
This is a diesel engine hauled all-AC Passenger Train that operates between NJP and Darjeeling thrice a week (usually on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday). This train has one AC Vistadome Coach with 15 seats and an AC Restaurant Car with 8 seats.
Vistadome Coach of NJP DJ AC Passenger
The train no. 52539 departs NJP station at 10:00am and reaches Darjeeling at 6:30pm on the same day. The return train (no. 52538) starts from Darjeeling at 9:10am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and reaches NJP station at 4:35pm on the same day.
Since this train has an AC Restaurant Car, food and water is available on this train. There is a toilet at one end of the coaches. This train has short stoppages at the intermediate stations Siliguri Junction, Sukna, Rongtong, Tindharia, Gayabari, Mahanadi, Kurseong, Tung, Sonada and Ghum.
Note that the Darjeeling bound AC Passenger Train 52539 is usually coupled with 52541 NJP-DJ Passenger train till Sukna station where it is de-coupled and runs on its own.
KGN DJ SLIP TRN 02451 (Kurseong to Darjeeling)
This is not a separate train. A first class slip coach gets added to the NJP-Darjeeling Passenger train 52541 at Kurseong and that is identified through this train number. The coach has 17 seats. If you want to board from Kurseong and travel to Darjeeling, you can book seats in this coach using the train no. 02451 (KGN DJ SLIP TRN).
It leaves Kurseong at 2:45pm reaching Darjeeling at 5:30pm. Total distance is 30kms. The down train (no. 02540) departs Darjeeling at 9am reaching Kurseong at 11:30am.
NOTE:
If you have heavy luggage, you will need to use the luggage van which is usually attached to this train. Talk to the station master so that the logistics can be arranged as soon as the train arrives at Kurseong.
Luggage space inside a coach is limited to overhead racks and below the seats.
DHR Passenger Toy Train Fares
(Fare updated: August 2024)
NJP DJ PASSENGER (52541), NJP to Darjeeling, First Class (FC) - Rs. 1400.00
NJP DJ PASSENGER (52541), NJP to Darjeeling, AC Chair Car (CC) - Rs. 1500.00
NJP DJ AC PASS (52539), NJP to Darjeeling, First Class (FC) - Rs. 1300.00
NJP DJ AC PASS (52539), NJP to Darjeeling, AC Chair Car (CC) - Rs. 1500.00
KGN DJ SLIP TRN (02451), Kurseong to Darjeeling, First Class (FC) - Rs. 750/-
How to Book Tickets for DHR Toy Train
While you can book tickets for DHR Toy Trains from any computerized reservation counter of Indian Railways all across India, it is easiest to book the tickets online through the official Indian Railway's Website IRCTC.CO.IN .
Amenities in Darjeeling Toy Trains
You can enjoy the toy train rides in several ways. 2-hour round-trip joy rides operate between Darjeeling and Ghum, and there are also regular passenger services of toy trains between NJP and Darjeeling. You can even charter a toy train or a coach for a large group.
Washrooms in Coaches
The coaches of DHR passenger toy trains that operate between NJP and Darjeeling usually have toilets or washrooms at one end (mostly in AC Chair Car coaches, but may not be available in all First Class coaches).
In case you are undertaking the 7 and a half hour long toy train journey from NJP to Darjeeling, and your coach doesn't have a washroom, then here are your options:
The train usually stops at Tindharia station for about 10 minutes which has a washroom. Tindharia is about 3 hours away from NJP station.
Then it stops at Kurseong station for about 10 minutes where you will find a washroom.
Although the train doesn't have scheduled stoppages at any other intermediate station, but it does stop once in a while for a short time at some of those small stations. You can then get off and walk over to an AC coach and use the washroom.
Note that other than Tindharia and Kurseong, no other intermediate stations have washrooms.
Food Availability
There is no food or water served in any DHR Toy Train. If you are undertaking the long journey between NJP and Darjeeling, you should carry your own food and water. There are many food stalls at NJP station to get your food and water. There are also food stalls outside Darjeeling station.
Once the train starts from NJP, you can only get a small food stall at Tindharia station where the train usually stops for 10 minutes. The food stall sells momos and few other snack items.
The train also has a 10-minute stoppage at Kurseong. Although you may not find any food stall at Kurseong station platforms, you can quickly walk out of the station premises and find several eateries there selling off-the-shelf snacks and bottled water.
You won't get food at any other station in the remaining journey.
Luggage
The NJP-Darjeeling toy train usually has a luggage van annexed at the end. If there is one, then you should keep your luggage there.
If you are planning to ride this train, I would suggest not to carry huge luggage and invite inconvenience. Sometimes, the luggage van may not be there and you will then be in real trouble.
The passenger coaches are crammed and there is hardly any room to keep luggage there. Your only option then would be to keep the luggage in whatever small leg space you have in front of your seat.
If luckily there are enough vacant seats, you can keep your luggage there, but this is highly unlikely in a high tourist season.
Vistadome Coaches
In 2021, Vistadome coaches have been added to some of the toy trains of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. These Vistadome coaches have large windows as well as roof glasses so that you can get a panoramic view.
Each coach has 44 seats all of which can rotate 180 degree. There is also an observation lounge at the end of the coach that has even larger windows. There are several other amenities offered including on-demand wi-fi, charging sockets, digital display screens and speakers etc.
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