Category: Travel & Tourism
If you are planning a Kalka–Shimla toy train ride this winter, do not book the full journey yet. Regular trains between Kalka and Dharampur are suspended, and only a limited service runs on the Dharampur–Shimla section.
Heavy rains in late August 2026 washed out stretches of the hill track near Parwanoo in Solan district, washing away the soil beneath a section of the heritage track. The service has been suspended since the last week of August.
What is running and what is not
The UNESCO World Heritage Kalka–Shimla railway line partially reopened on the Dharampur–Shimla stretch after railway authorities confirmed the safety of the route from Dharampur onwards. Direct trains from Kalka remain suspended while repairs continue on the damaged section.
The suspension was set until at least 30 November 2026, with later notices pointing to the end of December — and the dates have shifted more than once. Do not plan on a fixed resumption date. Booking sites show the Shivalik Deluxe and other Kalka-origin trains as cancelled through November 2026.
Tourism stakeholders in Shimla submitted a memorandum to the railway authorities on 27 October 2026, seeking early restoration of the damaged track. They said the prolonged suspension has hit taxi operators, drivers, hotels, travel agents and shopkeepers who depend on tourism. Railway officials have indicated that the service might resume around January, but that is an indication, not a confirmed date.
How to still ride the toy train
If the lower section is still closed on your dates, take a road transfer from Kalka to Dharampur — usually about an hour depending on traffic — and board the train there. The ride still passes Barog, Tunnel 33 and into the snow belt.
Check your train on the National Train Enquiry System or by calling 139 the day before you travel.
The normal timetable (when the full line runs)
| Train | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| 52451 Shivalik Deluxe | Kalka 05:45 | Shimla 10:40 |
| 52453 Express | Kalka 06:20 | Shimla 11:35 |
| 52459 Him Darshan | Kalka 07:00 | Shimla 12:55 |
| 52455 Himalayan Queen | Kalka 12:10 | Shimla 17:20 |
| 52457 Passenger | Kalka 03:30 | Shimla 08:55 |
The line is about 96 km and the journey takes 5 to 6 hours. Bookings open one month ahead (three months for the Shivalik Deluxe). The best chance of snow is from late December to mid-February, strongest after a Western Disturbance.
Sources: Travtasy, updated November 2026; ixigo train running status, November 2026; ANI via Latestly, 27 October 2026; Devdiscourse, 27 October 2026; OB News, 2026.
