Northern Railway Special Trains Summer Special Trains 

Summer Special Train Kalka-Shimla-Kalka

irctcportal , , ,

Summer Special Train Kalka-Shimla-Kalka

Kalka-Shimla-Kalka

For the convenience of passengers, Railways have decided to run following Un-reserved / Reserved Mail / Express Summer Special Trains as per schedule given below:-

01627/01624 Kalka – Shimla – Kalka Un-reserved mail Express Special (156 Trips)

Train No. 01627 Kalka – Shimla Un-reserved mail Express Special will depart from Kalka Daily at 13.05 hrs & will reach Shimla at 13.30 hrs

Similarly, Train No. 01624 Shimla – Kalka Un-reserved mail Express Special will depart from Shimla Daily at 09.20 hrs & will arrive Kalka at 15.50 hrs

Days of Run: 01627 Ex Kalka from 14.04.2025 to 30.06.2025 (Daily) & 01624 Ex Shimla from 15.04.22 to 01.07.22 (Daily)

Accommodation: Second Class Unreserved Stoppages: Sonwara, Dharampur Himachal, Barog, Solan, Salogra, Kandaghat, Shoghi, Taradevi, Jutogh and Summer Hill stations.

Note: All norms of the State and Central Government regarding COVID-19 including Wearing face mask and Social distancing etc., may be followed in the trains and at the Railway stations. All other precautions associated with COVID-19 should also be ensured.

NOTE: Passengers are therefore, advised to please check the detailed Time-Table of above trains through RailMadad Helpline No. 139 or visit Indian Railways website https://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in or the NTES App.

It turns out there was no dedicated “Summer Special Train” between Kalka and Shimla in 2025. Instead, the narrow‑gauge Kalka–Shimla heritage line saw increased regular services and holiday specials, which functionally served as summer demand trains. Here’s what was available:

🎟 Kalka–Shimla Heritage Services — Summer 2025

🆕 Special Seasonal Services

  • No summer special train numbered 04505 / 04506 listed in Centralised summer special schedules for 2025—prior years saw these as rail‑motor car specials, but not in this season.
  • Holiday/Tourist-special trains (e.g., 52443/52444) were run during November–December 2024 and continued into early 2025 to meet festive demand, with departures from Kalka at 08:05 hrs and return from Shimla at ~16:50 hrs. They ran until late February 2025.

🚇 Regular Toy-Train Timetable During Peak Months

In April–May–June 2025, the regular narrow‑gauge trains—Shivalik Deluxe Express (52451/52452), Kalka–Shimla NG Express (52453/52454), and Himalayan Queen Express (52455/52456)—operated daily or holiday specials, fully serving tourist demand even if not labeled explicitly as “summer specials.”

  • All seats reportedly were fully booked till May 20, 2025 due to surge. Waitlists reached 40–65 across classes.

🚌 Temporary Termination and Shuttle Arrangement

From May 30 to June 12, 2025, bridge maintenance forced trains to terminate prematurely at Tara Devi station. To compensate, special HRTC buses ran between Tara Devi and Shimla at a nominal fare (~₹22 per passenger).

📋 Summary Table

Feature Details
Train Numbers No 04505/04506 in 2025; regular trains continued as tourist specials
Johnson 52451/52452, 52453/52454, 52455/52456 frequent daily service
Period of high demand April–June 2025, all bookings reportedly full till May 20
Holiday Specials 52443/44 operating into Feb 2025 for New Year-period
Maintenance impact May 30 – June 12: service cut to Tara Devi; bus link arranged onward

🧭 Travel Planning Notes

  • Why no “special” label? Indian Railways often uses existing heritage train services as “de facto” summer special capacity without issuing new numbers.
  • Booking: Due to extraordinary tourist demand, tickets must be booked weeks in advance—especially for heritage coaches, AC or first-class unreserved seats.
  • Scenic Experience: Despite being slower (avg. ~15 km/h), the heritage ride is considered one of the most beautiful routes in India, with 102 tunnels, 800 bridges, and UNESCO status.
  • Connectivity updates: Maintenance shutdowns sometimes shorten routes—but alternate travel via buses is arranged seamlessly.

✅ What You Can Do

  • Consider booking regular toy trains (52451/52, 52455/56) via IRCTC or PRS at least 3–4 weeks ahead, especially for June–July travel.
  • Plan travel dates outside maintenance windows (i.e., avoid June 1–12 when trains terminate at Tara Devi).
  • If trains are inaccessible, buses between Tara Devi and Shimla offer a reliable last-leg link.

Would You Like Help With:

  • Exact train timings and connections between Kalka and Shimla?
  • Fare details (first class, chair car, etc.)?
  • Booking assistance or seat availability status?

Happy to help plan your hill-station journey!

error: