After a gap of around four years, the
toy train service from NJP to Ghayabari was finally restarted yesterday,
but the direct journey of the toy train from NJP to Darjeeling is yet
to be restored.
Notably, since June, 2010, there has
been no direct toy train services between NJP to Darjeeling, as its
routes and tracks are damaged at different places in Kurseong region,
mainly at 14th Mile Ghayabari and below the Tindharia Locomotive workshop due to frequent landslides. On June 14, 2010 a major portion of
NH-55 along with adjacent railway tracks were destroyed at 14 Mile due
to landslides. Later, on September 28, 2011, a major portion of railway
tracks were destroyed by a landslide below the Tindharia Railway
Workshop.
But recently, the affected site near the
Tindharia Railway Workshop was reconstructed with new railway tracks.
Following which the route was opened on Sunday, where a group of foreign
tourists enjoyed the ride of a steam engine toy train from NJP to
Ghayabari.
The reconstruction works of the routes
between Ghayabari station to Mahanadi station and further upwards from
Mahanadi station to Kurseong station are yet to be completed.
When asked, a senior Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) official said the efforts are on by the railway
department for the early resumption of the direct train services, but
until and unless the landslides affected NH 55 areas is not constructed
completely, it is difficult to resume the services till Darjeeling
currently.(EOIC)