Latest news with #RailMotorCar
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Northern Railway GM inspects Kalka railway station, reviews passenger facilities
1 2 3 Chandigarh: Ashok Kumar Verma, general manager of Northern Railway, conducted a detailed inspection of Kalka Railway Station on Saturday as part of a two-day review under the Ambala division. The inspection aimed to evaluate passenger amenities, security measures, and ongoing construction work under the Amrit Station Scheme. The GM also visited the Kalka Narrow Gauge Workshop and assessed various passenger-centric services including drinking water availability, catering stalls, restrooms, toilets, cleanliness, security, and the overall condition of the parking area. With the summer travel rush approaching, he emphasised the need for enhanced preparedness and comfort for passengers. During his visit, Verma inspected the newly introduced Vistadome coaches operating on the Kalka-Shimla heritage route. He recommended resuming operations of the iconic Rail Motor Car from 8 am to 12 noon and proposed increasing train frequency in the Kalka-Shimla section to accommodate growing tourist and commuter traffic. Interacting with railway employees, Verma appreciated the progress made so far and urged them to maintain momentum to ensure timely completion of infrastructure upgrades at the station. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gyeongsangnam-do: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Earlier, during a separate inspection through window trailing on train number 12925 — the Mumbai-Amritsar Paschim Express — Verma reviewed onboard passenger services, including catering, cleanliness, and security arrangements. At Chandigarh junction, which is being redeveloped into a world-class station, the GM held a review meeting with officials from the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). He directed them to ensure timely implementation of the master redevelopment plan, which is expected to be completed by Oct 2025. Divisional railway manager of Ambala Division Vinod Bhatia and other senior officers accompanied the GM during the inspections. The visit underlined Indian Railways' commitment to enhancing travel experience through improved infrastructure and upgraded passenger amenities.
Telegraph
17-02-2025
- Telegraph
Get your travel plans on track with these new escorted tours
Whether it's riding a heritage toy train through the Himalayas, witnessing the red-rock landscapes of Australia or exploring the centuries-old temples of Southeast Asia, Great Rail Journeys ' new itineraries for 2026 promise plenty in the way of once-in-a-lifetime adventures. And if you're looking to go long-haul but don't fancy the hassle of arranging it all, its group tours can help you get there with ease. With over 50 years of escorted-travel expertise to call upon, and with a tour manager on hand to make sure every step of your trip is unforgettable, you can focus on making new friends, enjoying unique cultural experiences and creating lifelong memories. To help inspire your next big adventure, here are some of the best group tours to book for next year. See India's Golden Triangle in style Experience India's most impressive sights with a dose of luxury on Great Rail Journeys' Exclusive India's Golden Triangle & Oberoi Hotels itinerary. This 14-day tour features luxury accommodation throughout – including stays at four historic Oberoi Hotels and the plush Six Senses Fort Barwara near Ranthambore. You'll start in Delhi before travelling by train to the Himalayan city of Shimla – the former summer capital of the British Raj. Enjoy a ride and lunch aboard the lavish Rail Motor Car, built for the Viceroy in 1928, before a day exploring Old and New Delhi and a visit to the royal 'pink city' of Jaipur. Highlights include a private jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park in search of Bengal tigers, a visit to the red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri, and catching sunrise over the Taj Mahal. You'll also enjoy plenty of culturally immersive experiences, from a ride on a pink rickshaw in Jaipur as part of a women's social enterprise project to lunch at a former prince's home. Get spiritual in the Himalayas See India in a different light on the 16-day Spirit of the Himalayas & Amritsar's Golden Temple itinerary, where you'll stay in the city of Rishikesh, a spiritual pilgrimage centre on the banks of the Ganges. Enjoy optional sunrise yoga, craft classes and meditation in this unique city before visiting the striking Golden Temple in Amritsar, a key pilgrimage site for Sikhs, where you'll witness the sacred Palki ceremony. Visit a tea plantation in the Kangra Valley for a tour and tasting amid the rolling hills; travel to the picturesque hill station of Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama; and embark on two toy train journeys: the Himalayan Queen and the Kangra Valley Railway (India's longest narrow-gauge track). Expect mesmerising views as you amble between snow-capped peaks, taking in the country's most extraordinary regions. Explore Australia and New Zealand's incredible landscapes Combine Australasia's must-see spots on an epic 23-day Highlights of Australia and New Zealand trip – from Melbourne, where you'll take in the cultural attractions on an evening cruise, to Uluru, to witness sunset over the rock before tucking into a three-course dinner and stargazing session. Elsewhere in Australia you'll visit Melbourne, enjoy a full-day cruise on the Great Barrier Reef and ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway between the waterfalls and soaring trees of the Cairns rainforest. Over in New Zealand, highlights include witnessing the steely blue waters and dramatic, towering peaks of Fiordland National Park's pristine wilderness; riding the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch into the Southern Alps; and cruising crystalline Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw, the oldest passenger-carrying steamship in the southern hemisphere. You'll also enjoy a Maori cultural evening with hangi (the traditional way of cooking underground), see the steaming sulphur vents of Rotorua, explore vibrant Auckland and visit the adventure capital of Queenstown, set amid mountain views. Delve deep into Southeast Asia Explore Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia on an all-encompassing, 18-day Grand Tour of Southeast Asia. You'll visit Bangkok, taking in highlights such as Wat Pho temple, home to the giant, gold-leaf Reclining Buddha. You'll ride a traditional long-tailed boat through the klongs (canals) of the city's historic quarter before heading north to cross the famous bridge over the River Kwai. From here you'll ride the Burma Railway, learning more about its history and its construction by Allied prisoners of war. In Laos, ride the modern Laos-China railway from Vientiane to Luang Prabang – one of the fastest trains in Southeast Asia – and take part in a cooking class, heading to a market with a local chef before preparing a Laotian feast. In Vietnam, sail between the mystical limestone karsts and emerald waters of Unesco-listed Ha Long Bay, among other highlights, and in Cambodia, travel by tuk-tuk to see the silhouetted spires of Angkor Wat, once the capital of the Khmer Empire, whose silhouetted spires form the largest temple complex in the world. Expect to be mesmerised from start to finish, with an expert Great Rail Journeys guide there to show you the ins and outs of this fascinating, heritage-rich part of the world and experiences hand-picked by experts to help you get to its real heart.
