This Durga puja, Darjeeling toy train ride to remain off track

 This Durga puja, Darjeeling toy train ride to remain off track

The reason: damages caused by landslides and cave-ins in certain stretches between Sukna (the last station in the plains) and Kurseong, the DHR authorities have suspended the regular services between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling railway stations which are around 80km apart, till October 15

Bireswar Banerjee, TT,  Siliguri, 05.10.24 : Tourists, who have planned a trip to Darjeeling during the Durga Puja and intend to ascend the hills on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) toy train from the plains, will not be able to avail of the services.

The reason: damages caused by landslides and cave-ins in certain stretches between Sukna (the last station in the plains) and Kurseong, the DHR authorities have suspended the regular services between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling railway stations which are around 80km apart, till October 15.

Since July 5, the services have been halted. Every day, a pair of trains run between the two stations.

“We hope the services will resume from October 16. The repair and restoration work of the tracks in the locations concerned is in progress. The tourists can, however, avail the joy ride,” said a source in DHR.

The ride — a return trip between Darjeeling and Ghoom railway stations — is the most popular toy train ride among tourists.

On Thursday, the ride was affected as a landslide hit Dali, a locality on the outskirts of Darjeeling.

“On Friday, we could run only four of the eight rides as the tracks were cleared in the afternoon. We hope from Saturday, all the trains will run,” the source added.

Those associated with tourism said that they hope the weather will improve in the next few days and the railways will be able to resume regular services.

“A section of tourists take the toy train from NJP to reach Darjeeling. It is a major attraction in the Darjeeling hills. We hope the rides will continue during the ensuing festive season when thousands of tourists flock to the hills,” said Debasish Chakraborty, the general secretary of Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association.

Train fest

The DHR, which functions under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), will celebrate the silver jubilee year of the conferment of world heritage status to DHR by Unesco later this year.

In 1999, Unesco conferred the status to DHR, the first mountain railway in India. Sources said that in the winter, a week-long fest, which has been named the Ghoom Winter Festival, would be organised to celebrate the occasion and promote the heritage railway.

“We will celebrate the silver jubilee year of DHR’s world heritage status. The week-long event will be organised from November 30 to December 8,” said Priyanshu, the director of DHR. Over the past two years, NFR has been hosting the fest to popularise the hill train among tourists by introducing new services. Also, residents of the hills are involved in showcasing traditional cultural activities, local cuisine and other attractions.

“Three steam locos of DHR which are operational, will complete 100 years. We have planned to exhibit these century-old locos and highlight the technical excellence of the glorious services. On December 5 (the day when the status was conferred by Unesco in 1999), there will be a special joy ride where children will join,” he added.

While the fest will be inaugurated in Ghoom, the closing ceremony will be held at Chowrasta in Darjeeling, sources said.