|
The Telegraph, Calcutta, 24 April 08 - Mocha strike flags down toy train by ANURADHA SHARMA
Siliguri, April 23: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha strike in government offices across the hills has pulled the chain on the toy train, causing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) a loss of Rs 30,000 a day.
The party has claimed that “tourist facilities” are out of the shutdown’s ambit, but Darjeeling’s biggest attraction has been left out of the list.
DHR director Subrata Nath said the Morcha had turned down his request to allow the toy train to run.
“They said they would allow only the Darjeeling-Ghoom ride, that too on a condition,” Nath said. “They asked us to operate the service without opening our stations and offices. They must understand that it is not possible to run a train like that. Tickets have to be issued, the engines need to be serviced and a lot of back-room work has to be done.”
The official added that in an emergency, the trains are taken to the Tindharia workshop, but that too has been shut down by the Morcha.
“We are losing about Rs 30,000 daily,” the DHR director said. “This is the peak season, a time when our trains are fully booked with the daily earnings sometimes shooting up to Rs 40,000. But for the past 10 days, we have had to withdraw all our services.”
The Morcha, spearheading an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, had called the strike on April 14.
“It is not possible to allow them to keep all their offices and stations open when all other government offices are closed,” Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said.
Tour operators said the shutdown has hit visitor flow to the hills. “Only tourists like to spend eight hours on a train journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling when it takes only three hours by road,” said Raj Basu, president of the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators’ Association.
A group of foreigners, touring India on the luxurious Deccan Odyssey train, had booked tickets on the toy train to go from Tindharia to Darjeeling. But their 55km trip was snipped to an 8km “joyride” between New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri stations.
“The toy train is not just about business,” Vivek Baid, a member of the DHR Support Group, said. “It is our heritage. All of us must be careful that we do not do anything that will harm the symbol of our tradition, heritage and pride.”
The Morcha, however, claimed that tourism was on track. “Tourists are coming in huge numbers and we are extending all co-operation to them,” Giri said.
Toy train chugs into World’s Top 25
The Telegraph, Calcutta; 15 January 2008 by ANURADHA SHARMA
Siliguri, Jan. 14: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) does not offer a moving palace, nor a five-star hotel on wheels, yet its 125-year-old narrow-gauge train has made it to the recently released list of the World’s Top 25 Trains.
The Society of International Railway Travelers, an organisation that celebrates 25 years in 2008, has made the announcement in a special edition of its official newsletter that provides up-to-date information on rail travel worldwide.
Palace on Wheels and the Deccan Odyssey are the two other Indian trains to feature on the list, which has Europe’s “very dignified grande dame” the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and some of the over-the-top luxury trains like the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa.
“The World’s Top 25 Trains is based on our own experience and that of our writers, editors, members and staff,” Society president Eleanor Hardy said in an electronic release issued on January 10 from Louisville, Kentucky, US. “The trains met stringent standards for service, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, off-train experiences and passenger enjoyment. Trains cannot pay to be included in this book: we choose them.”
DHR director Subroto Nath said he had spoken to the selectors after he had heard the news. “They confirmed the selection of the DHR,” he said. “What is significant is that the train has been selected solely on the basis of the experience it offers and not because of its heritage status. So far, we have mainly had British enthusiasts who were attracted to the train because of their nostalgia for steam engines. But now we hope to get tourists from all over the world, especially Americans.”
“This is wonderful news,” David Barrie, the president of the London-based DHR Society, told The Telegraph. “We are doubly delighted because it was Darjeeling Tours, an arm of our Society, that organised the tour for the selectors.”
David Charlesworth, the editor of Darjeeling Mail published by the DHR Society, added: “Most railways are about the scenery. The DHR certainly has the variety….It’s main difference is the intimate relationship with people. The travellers feel that they are visiting the homes and meeting everyone who lives along the line. There’s even time to jump on and off the train, travel on the roof and hang out of the doors. This freedom alone puts it at number one in my book!”
Top
Toy train treat with quiz,
The Telegraph, Calcutta; 25 October 2007 by ANURADHASHARMA
Siliguri, Oct. 24: Schoolchildren in the hills will soon get an opportunity to take free rides on the "sanu rail" (toy train) and learn about its heritage during the journey.
The Darjeeling-Ghum joyrides will be sponsored by the• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society, a UK-based body of steam lovers. Two "of its members, retired schoolteacher Marilyn Metz and her conservation-architect husband Peter Tiller, made the announcement during their visit here earlier this month.
"The aim is to take the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway closer to the children and arouse their interest in its unique heritage," Metz said.
To achieve this, the couple have come up with "My Diary of Train Journey", a' fourpage leaflet with 20 questions on the DHR which the children will be asked to fill up on board the toy train.
"Children will find it interesting to answer the questions and in the process end up learning more about the
DHR," said Tiller. "We also plan to get the questions translated into Indian languages."
Some of the questions are easy - what is the colour of the steam locomotive – while others are more difficult which is the highest peak seen from the toy train. The "diary" also has a checklist of buildings and landmarks that the children will tick as the train crosses them. Besides, there is Metz and ,Til.ler. A Telegraph picture
a detailed diagram of a steam engine with the names of all the parts.
The couple had taken a number of children on the Darjeeling-Ghum joyride in the first week of October. However, they will not be here to monitor every trip once the project gets going.
"As local coordinators, Inner Wheel Club, Darjeeling, will organise them and we will sponsor the costs," said Metz.
Nandini Mehtab, president, Inner Wheel Club, Darjeeling, said two trips have been lined up for the near future. "We are happy to be part of this initiative," she added.
The Telegraph, Calcutta 22 October 2007 by ANURADHASHARMA
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Railways and the London-based Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS) on issues concerning the heritage railway.
The agreement was signed on September 30 during a visit by senior railway officials to London.
“The MoU commits the two parties to work together for the mutual benefit on issues concerning the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and its adjacent buffer zones and covers such issues as communication, technical support, charter tours and facilities of visits, “ reads a press release issued from London by Paul Whittle, the public relations officer of the DHRS.
The MoU was signed for Indian Railways by Mathew John, the secretary of the Railway Board, and by DHRS Chairman David Barrie.
John was accompanied by Ashutosh Swami, general manage; Northeast Frontier Railways, Rajesh Agarwal, executive director, heritage, Harash Kumar, executive director; finance (expenditure), Naresh Salecha, executive director, finance (commercial) from Indian Railways and Mayank Tiwari, director, Rail Museums.
“We will benefit highly from the world-wide network of DHRS in spreading awareness about thr heritage railway across the world,” Agarwal told the Telegraph.
“The signing of the MoU is a milestone,” Barrie said, “Indian Railways has been generous in acknowledging the contribution of DHRS in the revival of the heritage railway, We look forward to closer co-operation with them.
Citing examples of how the agreement will work out, Whittle said; “On the publicity front, we have produced an attractive poster, which Indian Railways is keen to use. We have also agreed to hepl produce a DHR guidebook which the railway will sell.”
On the technical front, the DHRS will help Indian Railways in its initiative at oil-firing DHR locomotives, Whittle said.
In addition, the DHRS will work towards more tours for the DHR. “Our associated tour company - Darjeeling Tours -
is increasing the number of tours it brings to the Darjeeling region for 2008 to as many as 10,” Whittle added.
Vegetable counter to save green wealth - Forest department funds project
VIVEK CHHETRI; The Telegraph - Calcutta - 28 August 2007
Rajahata (Sonada), Aug. 27: Residents of this village, around 20km from Darjeeling town, have built a sales counter for organic vegetables in association with the forest department. According to forest officials, the counter will provide an alternative source of livelihood, thus drawing people away from poaching and timber smuggling in the adjacent Senchel Wildlife Sanctuary.
 “We provided a sum of Rs 50,000 to the Rajahata Eco Development Committee (EDC) and they contributed an equal share by working voluntarily for the project,” said U.S. Tamang, range officer, Senchel.
The funds were provided by the Bengal wildlife department under the North Bengal Forest Project head, which is an extension of the joint forest management programme.
The counter, which is located along to NH 55, was inaugurated by officials of Darjeeling Wildlife (Division-I) a few days ago. The facility will be used to market vegetables like radish, cabbage, cauliflower, beans grown by the 35 families in the village. The stall was designed by Keshar Rai, a 55-year-old mason, who had lost his right hand in a crude bomb explosion. It was Rai, who acted as the head mason and led the team of volunteers in building the concrete and stone structure that has its interiors panelled with wood.
“It was a wonder to see him working. As the head mason of the project, he would first stick a nail with his left hand and than use it to drive in the nail. The way he went about working with stones with just one hand was also amazing,” said Tamang. A shy Rai maintained that he had no problems in setting up the structure. “I am used to it and I do not feel handicapped by my loss.”
The forest department is in the process of identifying “disturbed” areas along the forest and encouraging residents from entering the forest and indulging in illegal activities. “Earlier we used to get about 10-15 cases of illegal poaching or felling every year from this village. After holding meetings with them such incidents have practically stopped. The villagers are now concentrating on farming,” said Tamang. The Senchel Wildlife Sanctuary is home to animals like the clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, black barking deer and rabbits.
This is the first project that has been taken up by the EDC of this village. They have formed self-help groups with six members each and will be running the counter by turns. News provided by Santanu Pal
The Times of India
New Darjeeling toy train to offer 360 degrees sightseeing experience
10 Aug 2007, 0304 hrs IST,Kounteya Sinha,TNN 
NEW DELHI: India's very own version of the world famous panorama railways — Britain's Ffestiniog Railway and Switzerland's Brienz Rothom Bahn — is all set to chug out. To commemorate the 127th anniversary of Darjeeling Heritage Train's inaugural journey on August 23, 1880, India will roll out its first ever Shatabdi with a transparent roof.
The five-coach train, inspired by the Swiss panorama railways and specially designed to provide a real treat for tourists wanting to enjoy a 360 degree view of Darjeeling's pristine beauty, will initially run between New Jalpaiguri and Kurseong.
Tentatively called The Hill Princess, the train will cover the 40-km journey in three hours. Once the entire 90-km stretch of narrow gauge track is repaired, the train will run till Darjeeling. The journey will take six hours. Speaking to TOI, Rajesh Agrawal, executive director (heritage) in the railway ministry, said the new Shatabdi will have three improved features — better interiors, an in-house entertainment system and a fully transparent roof with larger side windows for a free view of the surroundings.
Agrawal said, "The design of this Shatabdi has been inspired greatly by the Swiss panorama railways. At present, tourists and daily passengers experience a rickety back-breaking ride from NJP-Kurseong. Now, they will truly enjoy this breathtaking journey while relaxing on their reclining seats and munching on snacks." The see-through roof has been made with scratch-proof polycarbonate sheet at the famous Kurduwadi rail workshop, located between Pune and Sholapur.
G Ravisudhan, works manager of Kurduwadi, told TOI, "This narrow gauge train will be the first to use the more powerful air brake system in place of the present-day vacuum brakes. The wide vision windows on the side will be 1 metre instead of the present day .7 metres."
Chief mechanical officer of North-East Frontier Railways V K Jha said, "We have already received two coaches from the workshop and are waiting for the other three. The first class will have 16 seats while the second class will accommodate 32 people."
According to Agrawal, the new Shatabdi will ply on the same 2 feet narrow gauge used by the DHR at present. It will start from NJP at an elevation of 100 metres and climb to 2,200 metres at Darjeeling.
Though the train will pass through all the 14 stations, it will only stop once at Kurseong. "We wanted a non-stop service from NJP-Darjeeling. Track timings are therefore being worked out in such a manner that when the two trains cross, DHR will wait and let the Shatabdi pass," Agrawal added. DHR was declared a world heritage site by Unesco in 1999, only the second railway to have this honour bestowed upon it at that time, the first one being Semmering Railway of Austria in 1998.
kounteya.sinha@timesgroup.com
|
