Rail Motor Car to likely be back on track by January 20, tickets sold out

The Rail Motor Car on the Kalka-Shimla heritage line is likely to be back on track by January 20. While the Railways are already accepting booking for the rail car from January 16 onwards, it is likely that it would take a few more days to become operational. The two rail cars were stalled for the past few months after the wheels suffered wear and tear. These were procured last moth and are in the process of being installed.

The popularity of the motor car can be gauged from the fact that the tickets from January 16 onwards are already sold out and for some of the days, these are overbooked. Once it starts plying, the rail car will start from Kalka Railway Station at 9.50 am and reach Shimla at 4.40 pm. While it will start from Shimla at 4.25 pm and reach Kalka at 9.35 pm. The fare will be Rs 270.

The rail cars have been plying on the UNESCO Heritage track since 1927. Over the past several months these were not operational as the wheels wore off. With the technology being obsolete, the railway officials had a tough time looking for these wheels. Finally these were procured from Hyderabad and are being installed at the workshop in Kalka after adjusting the size as per requirement. While there was apprehension that the rail cars would permanently have to go off track if wheels could not be procured, these have now been put to rest.

"The work for installing the wheels is going on. The old wheels had undergone much wear and tear. While these were received at the workshop in December, the process of adjustment is going on. We are trying to make the train operational by January 16, but most likely by January 20 it would be on tracks" said an official.

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