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Darjeeling Toy Train Appoints First Woman Ticket Examiner in 145 Years

Her rotational posting on the NJPDarjeeling heritage route signals progress for women in railway field roles.

Overview

  • Northeast Frontier Railway confirmed Sarita Yolmo as the first woman TTE on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, with her debut run on February 5, 2026.
  • She works the New Jalpaiguri–Darjeeling service on rotation, typically taking the morning departure and returning the next day after an overnight halt.
  • TTEs for the route are deputed by the Chief Travelling Ticket Inspector office at New Jalpaiguri, where she is posted.
  • She is currently the only woman TTE on the roughly eight-hour one-way hill journey, which can extend due to weather or track delays.
  • The UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, established in 1881 and operated by NFR, spans about 88 km as Asia’s oldest two-foot narrow-gauge line.