{"id":3434,"date":"2024-11-19T16:12:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T10:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2024-11-19T16:12:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T10:42:10","slug":"darjeeling-himalayan-railway-to-resume-after-4-month-pause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3434","title":{"rendered":"Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to Resume After 4-Month Pause"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) <\/a>passenger service between New Jalpaiguri (NJP)<\/a> and Darjeeling<\/a> will resume on Sunday, November 16, after a four-month hiatus caused by monsoon-related landslides. The service, which was suspended on July 5, had been disrupted due to extensive damage to the railway tracks<\/a> in several areas along the route, including Paglajhora<\/a>, Tindharia<\/a>, and Kurseong<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The suspension followed severe landslides that compromised the safety of the narrow-gauge tracks running parallel to NH110<\/a>. Major damage occurred near Paglajhora<\/a>, where about 100 meters of road sank<\/a>, and additional cave-ins and track shifts left the route unsafe for passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DHR<\/a> Director Priyanshu<\/a> confirmed the resumption of service, stating that the final decision would follow a trial run on Saturday, November 15, which was conducted to ensure the tracks\u2019 safety<\/a>. \u201cA diesel loco trial was completed on Wednesday, and another test run with a full train will take place today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resumption of the toy train service is a significant relief for local residents and the tourism industry, which relies heavily on the route. Samrat Sanyal<\/a>, General Secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network, expressed optimism about the service\u2019s return. \u201cWe are excited for the resumption and will soon submit proposals to improve the service,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DHR<\/a> authorities are also preparing for the upcoming Ghoom Winter Festival<\/a>, scheduled for November 30 to December 8. This year\u2019s event will hold special significance as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Darjeeling<\/a> Himalayan Railway\u2019s UNESCO<\/a> World Heritage status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The successful restoration of the tracks marks a positive step forward for both the railway and tourism <\/a>in the region after a challenging monsoon season<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"