Vistadome coach chugs again on Kalka track

Tribune News Service

Solan, December 16

The much-hyped vistadome coach, providing a picturesque view to commuters through its see-through glass rooftop, today resumed service on the Kalka-Shimla railway track after nine months. It was discontinued in March in view of the Covid lockdown.

Though its trip to Shimla saw less than 10 passengers when the train started from Kalka at 7 am, the business is expected to pick up soon, said railway officials.

To begin with, only one trip will be made by the coach in a day and it will begin its journey back to Kalka at 3:50 pm from Shimla. It will reach back at Kalka at 9:15 pm. One can make online bookings for the coach where a ticket costs Rs 800.

“It provides almost uninterrupted journey to tourists as it barely halts for 10 minutes at Barog and doesn’t stop anywhere else. In view of the Christmas and New Year tourist rush, it has been timed to provide connectivity to Howrah Mail at Kalka,” said an official.

This coach was introduced on the UNESCO’s world heritage railway track in December 2019 and is first of its kind aesthetically designed coach on this track. It offers a seating capacity of 100. Two passenger trains had also resumed services. About 50 per cent occupancy has been registered by the trains.