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Northeast Frontier Railway seeks to leverage global spotlight on Darjeeling Toy Train

Siliguri, Sep 28 (UNI) Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is looking to further strengthen the tourism potential of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), particularly its heritage joy rides, following Darjeeling’s inclusion in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2027 list.
The railway believes the international recognition will help draw greater attention to the unique Toy Train experience in the Darjeeling hills.
NFR plans to use the renewed global interest to promote the DHR not only as a heritage railway but also as an experiential tourism attraction. Steam locomotive rides, heritage journeys and special programmes at historic stations are being promoted to give visitors a closer experience of the railway’s history, engineering and the landscape through which it operates.
“We are happy that Darjeeling has received this international recognition. The DHR is not merely a railway but a living heritage of the hills, and we want to provide visitors with memorable experiences through heritage joy rides and other tourism initiatives,” said NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma.
NFR has also been using festivals and events to increase visitor engagement with the DHR and the communities along its route. The Ghum Winter Festival, Station Mahotsav and Summer Festival have provided opportunities to showcase the heritage stations, local culture and the distinctive Toy Train experience, while encouraging tourists to explore different parts of the DHR route, according to Sharma.
According to NFR, greater emphasis is being placed on sustainable tourism and community participation along the DHR route. Cultural programmes, station-based events and outreach activities are being organised to connect visitors with local communities while creating wider tourism opportunities in the hills.
The railway is also seeking to attract younger visitors through experiential and educational programmes highlighting the DHR’s heritage and pioneering engineering. The objective is to preserve the character of the historic railway while making its journey more engaging for tourists, according to the press note.
The DHR, opened in 1881 and part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site, continues to remain one of the region’s most distinctive tourism attractions.
UNI MBN NST
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