DHR services to resume

Amitava Banerjee MP | Oct 2018 | Darjeeling: There is good tiding for tourists visiting the Hills. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling is expected to become operational from October 5. 

Incidentally, a major landslide had damaged 60m of tracks at Paglajhora, 9 km from Kurseong town in between Ghayabari and Mahanadi on August 1 this year. Since then the DHR services in between NJP and Kurseong have remained suspended. 

"Repair and maintenance of tracks are being carried out on a war footing. We expect the services to resume from October 5," stated MK Narjinary, Director, DHR. A trial run was held on Tuesday.

The world heritage DHR is a major tourist attraction. News of DHR services resuming services before Durga puja tourist has emerged as a major relief for the travel trade industry. 

The Darjeeling-Kurseong section is still operational with the landslide having no effect on this part. Four steam and three diesel joy ride services are running between Darjeeling and Ghoom and back. A pair of passenger trains are running between Kurseong and Darjeeling and between Darjeeling and Kurseong. 

The joy rides are a hot favourite among tourists, specially foreign tourists.