Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) enthusiasts have expressed their concern over the recent derailments of toy trains in the hills.

Since December 15, at least four incidents of derailment and an incident of technical snag in the loco have been reported in the region.

According to representatives of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS), based in the UK with members across the world, the lack of maintenance was the main reason behind the incidents.

Such glitches, they said, could affect the global image of the mountain railway that had earned the world heritage status from Unesco way back in 1999.

“We are deeply concerned over the frequent derailments.... These incidents have led to questions regarding regular maintenance and safety of passengers in toy trains. It appears that the railway authorities are only focusing on revenue and ignoring the maintenance aspects,” said Sushil Dikshit, a representative of the DHRS, on Saturday.

Over the past few years, the DHR has gained immense popularity among tourists, especially the popular Joy Rides between Darjeeling and Ghoom.

On December 25, the hill railway set a new record as 954 persons boarded toy trains, the highest in a single day, which earned a revenue of Rs 10.75 lakh.

Dikshit said that in the hills, road traffic has been on the rise and congestion on National Highway 55 between Kurseong and Darjeeling was common during tourist seasons. On many stretches, the railway tracks cut through the highway, making them vulnerable to wear and tear, he pointed out.

“We believe these are the points (where railway tracks cut through NH55) where tracks should be checked regularly as vehicles constantly move over them. Also, overhauling of every coach, loco and wheelbase should be thoroughly and regularly done for the sake of passenger safety,” he said.

As of now, the DHR runs 14 services every day, which include 12 Joy Rides and two regular trains between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri.