Regular services of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) toy train between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling is likely to resume on October 1, after almost three months.
On July 5, the DHR authorities, who function under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), cancelled the toy train movement along the route as a stretch of NH110 (formerly NH55) sank near Paglajhora, a waterfall between Sukna and Kurseong.
As the DHR tracks run parallel to the highway, the subsidence posed questions on passengers safety.
“Hence, the regular service between NJP and Darjeeling was suspended. It has been decided to keep the service suspended till September 30 as we are still working near Paglajhora to restore tracks. Hopefully, from October 1, we will resume the service,” said Priyanshu, the DHR director.
Every day, a pair of trains used to run between NJP and Darjeeling. With the service now held up, stakeholders of the tourism industry have expressed worries.
Railway authorities said the 14km joy ride between Darjeeling and Ghoom was operational. “We are running eight joy rides every day. We plan to add four more rides from October 1,” Priyanshu said.
Highway inspection
Officials of the Bengal PWD and the Union ministry of road transport and highways jointly visited Swetijhora on NH10 on Wednesday to inspect the latest cave-in and work to cut down the hillside and create space for a road. Traffic has been held up since late Monday on this stretch.
