(Photo Courtesy: NFR)
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Maligaon, June 8 (MExN): The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), the UNESCO World Heritage mountain railway under Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), has recorded its highest-ever single-month revenue since inception, earning a record Rs 395.60 lakh in May 2026.
The figure surpassed the previous record of Rs 358.60 lakh achieved in May 2025, reflecting the growing popularity of the heritage railway among tourists and railway enthusiasts from India and abroad.
According to NFR, the record-breaking revenue was driven by strong passenger patronage during the peak tourist season, particularly on the iconic heritage joy rides and regular passenger services operating through the scenic Darjeeling hills.
The railway attributed the increasing demand to the enduring appeal of the world-famous narrow-gauge railway and efforts undertaken to enhance passenger amenities and promote heritage tourism.
Data released by the railway showed a strong revenue trend over the past five years. DHR earned Rs 319.64 lakh in May 2022, Rs 358.18 lakh in May 2023, Rs 288.58 lakh in May 2024, Rs 358.60 lakh in May 2025 and a record Rs 395.60 lakh in May 2026.
With passenger demand continuing to remain high, DHR is expected to sustain the momentum in the current month. Based on existing booking trends and traffic patterns, revenue for June 2026 is projected to exceed Rs 370 lakh, potentially making it one of the highest revenue-earning June months in the railway's history.
The achievement highlights the growing appeal of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as one of India's most celebrated heritage attractions. NFR stated that it remains committed to preserving the unique legacy of the UNESCO World Heritage railway while continuously improving service quality, safety standards and visitor experience.
The railway also noted that the strong revenue performance reflects DHR's significant role in promoting tourism and contributing to the economic development of the Darjeeling region.
