The discontinuation of services of two Calcutta-bound trains from Jalpaiguri station has left residents of the town disgruntled and also made a number of political parties, including Trinamul, blame the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for the decision.

“Forget air-conditioned coaches, even a sleeper coach is not available for a Jalpaiguri resident from the local station as services of two trains have been discontinued. This is yet another decision by the railways which is against the interest of thousands of residents of this town. We want the train services to resume immediately and have already launched a movement on the demand,” said Saikat Chatterjee, the Jalpaiguri district youth Trinamul president.

Earlier, a portion of the Teesta Torsa Express would depart from Haldibari and would move via Jalpaiguri while the other portion would come from new Alipurduar. The train would join at Raninagar-Jalpaiguri station and would then head for Calcutta.

Also, some coaches of Darjeeling Mail would follow the same route and would reach New Jalpaiguri, where the coaches were attached with the train every day.

Jayanta Roy, the BJP MP of Jalpaiguri, said: “We are confident that soon, the Darjeeling Mail will start running from Haldibari and via Jalpaiguri. There are also plans to increase stops of some other long distance trains.”