Title - Rail motor car back on Kalka-Shimla track

Chandigarh: The historical rail motor car is back on the Kalka-Shimla heritage line from today. With a hike of Rs 50 in its fare, now its ticket will be of Rs 255. The motor car has started its journey after a halt of six months. Interestingly, the motor car with a capacity of 12 passengers has a waiting list of double the number this weekend.According to the record of the Railways, there is a waiting list of 26 persons in the motor car for January 26.Sources in the Railways said around six months ago, due to some technical fault in the train, the authorities had withdrawn its plying. They said there was a major fault in the tires of the motor car and the authorities were struggling to find its replacement. The trail run of the motor car was conducted last week and order to commence its services was issued today.Railways Senior Divisional Commercial Manager GM Singh said the motor car services were withdrawn due to a technical fault, but they were being resumed from today on the time table followed earlier. The bookings of the rail car have been opened.As per schedule, it will start at 5.10 am from Kalka and the return journey from Shimla will be at 4.25 pm. A group of 12 passengers can be accommodated in this vintage locomotive, which resembles buses used during World War II.The officials said it had become quite challenging to maintain and continue to run these heritage vehicles of the British era as there were no manufacturers for supplying spare parts of old machines. This rail car was introduced by the British between 1927 and 1930. It was the last rail car running on this track as three others had been discontinued earlier.

The officials said the motor car was preferred by tourists for a non-stop journey with only a 10-minute halt at Barog. The four-and-a-half hour journey provided travellers with a panoramic view of the Shivalik Ranges as it passed through 864 bridges, 102 tunnels and 900 sharp curves and turns.