Throughout the historic Kalka-Shimla railway track, ten of the eighteen stoppages have been eliminated in an effort to increase efficiency and shorten travel times. Kanoh, Kathleeghat, Shogi, Taradevi, Kathlighat, Kumarhatti, Sanwara, Koti, Gumman, and Taksal are the stations that are not included. Over 300 locations on the 92 km long, UNESCO-protected railway track from the British era needed repairs as a result of the continuous rain in July and August. Six toy trains and a Rail Motor Car (RMC) started running again in September following a lengthy restoration.
The passenger train will now leave Kalka at 3.45 am and arrive in Shimla at 8.55 am, without making stops at Tara Devi, Kathlighat, Kanoh, or Shogi. The same train departs Shimla at 10.55 am on the return trip and arrives in Kalka at 4.35 pm, without making stops at Kathlighat, Kumarhatti, Sanwara, Koti, Gumman, and Taksal. In addition to being a popular tourist destination and historical site, the Kalka-Shimla track is an essential local transportation route.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Mandeep Singh Bhatia of Ambala stated, “We have rationalized the schedule to shorten the total travel time between Kalka and Shimla. The second train covers the stations that the first train did not stop at, and vice versa. Passenger convenience is increased when a full 7-coach train is substituted for a single coach Rail Motor Car. This modification provides enough block margin for track upkeep. We are still open to comments and suggestions regarding the trial decision to exclude specific stops.
The length of the railway track, ticket sales, passenger volume, and the separation between stops all played a role in the decision to leave out stops. Between Shimla and Kalka, the average running time in a downward direction has decreased from 5.17 hours to 4.51 hours. The railway authorities intend to test this modification and assess the outcome before making any more decisions regarding stoppages.
After restoration, there are still six train services operating each way between Kalka and Shimla despite the decrease in stoppages. The goal of the stop rationalization is to expedite travel on the Kalka-Shimla route and simplify services.