Trial of new DHMU coaches begins on historic Kalka-Shimla railway track

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai today commenced a five-day trial run of the newly developed Diesel Hydraulic Multiple Unit (DHMU) coaches on the historic Kalka–Shimla railway track. During the first trial a train from Kalka ran to Shimla and back was conducted in tare condition.

As per the officials of the Northern Railways, similar trials will be held on the heritage railway track for the next few days for which schedule has been prepared. As per the schedule, a trial run of another tare train having AC load will be conducted on the same railway track. The train will commute between Kalka to Shimla and back.

Similarly, another trial of train from Kalka to Shimla and back will be held on December 3 in which loading of three coaches as per design weight will be operated on the track. On December 4, the trial will be conducted with gross (loaded) condition while the final trial will be conducted on December 5 in which coaches in gross condition with AC load will commute between Kalka to Shimla and from Shimla to Kalka.

The trials are being conducted to provide rail services via DHMU coaches on the heritage railway track. DHMU coaches are expected to operate between Kalka and Shimla following the success of these trials.