The journey by train from Kalka to Shimla is scheduled to take between 4 hours 50 minutes and 5 hours 55 minutes depending upon which train service you take. Via the shortest route the distance travelled is 94 km.
Train Times to Shimla
There are 5 direct train services from Kalka to Shimla.
- Train times from Kalka Railway Station (KLK) to Shimla Railway Station (SML).
Train | Kalka (KLK) | Shimla (SML) | Operating Days |
52457 | 03:30 | 08:55 | M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su |
52451 | 05:45 | 10:35 | M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su |
52453 | 06:20 | 11:35 | M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su |
52459 | 07:00 | 12:55 | M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su |
52455 | 12:10 | 17:30 | M,Tu,W,Th,F,Sa,Su |
Buy Tickets to Shimla
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Location of Kalka Railway Station
Kalka Railway Station is 39.2 km by road from Chandigarh International Airport.
Location of Shimla Railway Station
Shimla Railway Station is 2.0 km by road from Christ Church.
Kalka to Shimla Railway Line
A trip on the Kalka to Shimla Railway line is generally considered to be one of the world’s great railway journeys. The train travels a relatively short distance at average speeds of 16 to 20 kilometres per hour but ascends a massive 1,419 metres on route from Kalka to Shimla, a gradient of 1 in 33 which is steep for a railway track. There are faster ways to travel from Kalka to Shimla but not more enjoyable ones as the railway winds its way through mountainous country past 16 small stations on route to Shimla. On route the train negotiates 917 curves, crosses over 988 bridges and viaducts and passes through 102 tunnels. There is always something to see on this train journey, except of course when the train is passing through one of the 102 tunnels on the way to Shimla.

The Kalka to Shimla Railway Line took 5 years to build opening in 1903. The reason for the construction of the railway line was that Shimla was the summer time capital of British administered India and the Headquarters of the British Army in India. Prior to the construction of the line people and goods travelled to Shimla by horse and cart or bullock and cart which was considerably slower than the train services which run from Kalka to Shimla. The Kalka to Shimla Railway Line now operates primarily as a very popular tourist attraction.