Toy Train Service Delay Amid Natural Calamities Threatens Darjeeling Tourism

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 19, 2024, Darjeeling : The much-anticipated revival of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's toy train service, originally scheduled for September 21, has been delayed by 10 more days due to natural disasters in the region. The new expected start date is now September 30, according to Priyanshu Kumar, Director of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR). These setbacks, exacerbated by ongoing disruptions on National Highway 10 (NH-10), which connects Siliguri to Sikkim and Kalimpong, have raised concerns about the upcoming tourist season, particularly as Durga Puja approaches.

A series of landslides, triggered by heavy rains, have severely impacted infrastructure across the region, including the vital NH-10, which serves as the primary lifeline between Siliguri and Sikkim. The road has been completely cut off, causing a ripple effect on local tourism-dependent businesses, who fear significant losses as a result.

The toy train, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a key draw for tourists visiting the Darjeeling hills, has been out of service for several months. The NJP-Darjeeling railway line was critically damaged in July due to landslides, forcing the suspension of the service. Despite plans to restart operations on September 21, environmental conditions have forced the DHR to postpone the reopening once again.

"Repair work is ongoing on the damaged tracks. We hope to complete it soon and resume services by September 30," Kumar stated. This delay is yet another blow to the railway, which had previously suspended operations during the 2017 political unrest in the hills and later during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For over three months now, the toy train service has been halted due to the monsoon season, severely affecting tourism in the region. Tourists, many of whom plan their trips around the scenic train ride, are expressing disappointment. With the Durga Puja holiday drawing near—a time when Darjeeling sees an influx of visitors—local businesses fear the impact of continued disruptions.

Meanwhile, efforts to repair NH-10 are ongoing. The highway has been closed for the past two days following erosion by the Teesta River. Engineers from the works department are on-site, but the difficult terrain, particularly in the Seti Jhora area, is delaying progress. The area is a rocky zone, requiring the mountainside to be cut before the road can be rebuilt. Nighttime work is also hampered by safety concerns, further slowing down efforts to restore access.

The closure of NH-10, combined with the suspension of the toy train, presents a dire situation for the tourism industry in the Darjeeling-Sikkim region. Without the iconic toy train, a major attraction for tourists, and with road access limited, local business owners fear the worst for the upcoming peak holiday season.