Glass-roofed coach to chug on Shimla rail track soon

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 11

The 115-year-old Shimla-Kalka train will soon have its first see-through Vistadome coach that will allow passengers to see the landscape through the glass ceiling. The train’s first trial trip with the new coach on Saturday was successful and it will soon be attached to the trains running on the narrow-gauge track.

The cost of the Vistadome coach, which is made of glass, is Rs 10 lakh. Even roof and doors are transparent and made of 12-mm thick glass. The 36-seater coach is fully air-conditioned and steel railings have been erected along the doors. It comprises designer LED lights, window blinds and cushioned wooden interiors. The aesthetically designed Vistadome coach CT-15, also known as Nihaar, is a first-of-its-kind on the Kalka-Shimla railway section. The journey time between Shimla and Kalka is five hours.

Station Superintendent Prince Sethi said, “The train with the Vistadome coach took off from Shimla and reached Kalka with the railway staff on board. The run was successful.”

During his last visit to Shimla, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had directed that such a coach be manufactured for the narrow-gauge rail line. The timing, fare and the number of coaches to be attached with the train are yet to be decided. The railway authorities are working to reduce the journey time to four hours, which will encourage people, especially tourists, to travel by train.

In 2009, the Kalka-Shimla rail track was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. There are 103 tunnels on the rail line, besides 800 bridges, 919 curves and 18 railway stations.

Delightful experience

• The see-through Vistadome coach has a seating capacity of 36 and in addition to glass roof, it has modified windows and conditioned system. 
• It is fitted with designer LED lights, window blinds and cushioned wooden interiors.
• Passengers or tourists can now sit relaxed in their seats and enjoy panoramic view from the Vistadome coach for a better sightseeing experience.