Chandigarh, Dec. 29 -- As the mountains prepare for their first major winter coat, Northern Railways has launched a special holiday toy train on the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla track. Starting this Sunday, the service is timed perfectly for the New Year rush, especially as the India meteorological department (IMD) predicts light snowfall and rain across the high hills between December 31 and January 2.

The special service will operate daily through the peak of the winter season till February 28. Designed to offer a nostalgic journey through the frosted Shivalik ranges, the train features seven coaches: four general seating, a first-class composite, a tourist car (first-class), and a seating-cum-luggage rake.

According to the Amba...