Chandigarh: In view of continuous heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides in Himachal Pradesh, Indian Railways has suspended four train services on the Kalka-Shimla narrow-gauge railway line till Aug 5.Five trains depart from Kalka and five return daily on the route. Of these, two trains in each direction have been suspended.Officials in the Ambala Division said persistent monsoon showers have led to repeated incidents of rockfall and debris on the tracks, making train operations unsafe. The temporary suspension has been ordered to ensure the safety of passengers and railway staff while route monitoring and track-clearance work continue.Senior divisional commercial manager, Ambala Division, Yashanjit Singh, said, “Passenger safety is our highest priority. Due to continuous rainfall and the possibility of landslides and falling rocks on the Kalka-Shimla section, four train services have been suspended till Aug 5 as a precautionary measure. Railway teams are closely monitoring the route, and services will resume once weather conditions improve and the track is declared safe for operations.”Railway officials said engineering teams are carrying out regular inspections and removing debris from vulnerable locations to restore normal services at the earliest.The Kalka-Shimla National Highway (NH-5) remains open for vehicular traffic, providing an alternative mode of travel for passengers heading to Shimla. Travellers have been advised to check the latest train status before starting their journey.About four weeks ago, a train on the Kalka-Shimla section was halted for nearly four hours after a landslide. Debris fell on the track ahead of the train, but the driver applied brakes in time, averting a major accident.Of the five daily trains from Kalka to Shimla, three continue to operate — 52467 Kalka-Shimla Mail (3:30 am), 52453 Kalka-Shimla Express (6:20 am) and 52455 Himalayan Queen (11:55 am).The suspended services are 52451/52452 Shivalik Deluxe Express (Kalka-Shimla-Kalka) and 52459/52460 Kalka-Shimla Express (Kalka-Shimla-Kalka).Box: Suspended Train Services–52451/52452 Shivalik Deluxe Express–52459/52460 Kalka-Shimla Express–Services suspended till Aug 5–Suspension ordered due to landslide and rockfall riskBox: What Happened Last Year?–Train services on the Unesco World Heritage Kalka-Shimla railway line were suspended till Sept 5, 2025–Heavy rain triggered landslides between Koti and Kanoh stations–Debris damaged multiple sections of the track–Restoration work took several days due to extensive damage–The heritage railway witnessed repeated monsoon-related disruptions in 2025
