Toy trains service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling stations will remain suspended from February 2 to February 10 on account of maintenance of the tracks.

The announcement by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) authorities has come a day after the state announced reopening of the tourist spots across Bengal. “The regular services between NJP and Darjeeling stations will remain closed from February 2 to February 10 because of maintenance of the tracks. The other services like Joy Rides, however, remains unaffected,” said a source in DHR.

The decision has left the tourism industry disappointed as toy trains are considered as one of the key attractions for tourists visiting the Darjeeling hills.

Tourism stakeholders mentioned that the industry had suffered a setback last month because of closure of all tourist spots owing to the surge in Covid-19 cases. It is only from February 1 that the spots have reopened. “Many tourists, especially foreign travellers, take a trip in the regular service that runs the entire stretch, that is, between NJP and Darjeeling. At this time, the service has been kept suspended for nine days,” said a tour operator based in Siliguri.

It may be mentioned that the service along the 80km-odd route had remained suspended since October 20 last year following a landslide between Tindharia and Mahanadi stations during a bout of incessant rain. The service resumed on January 21 this year, after almost three months.

“The DHR is a world heritage site recognised by the Unesco. We realise that maintenance of tracks is necessary but it could have been carried out during the three months when repair works were going on at the site of the landslide. Such intermittent suspension of services does not send a good message to the tourists,” said a hotelier of Darjeeling.