GUWAHATI: Goods train services to the North East resumed after restoration of the flood-damaged portion of the track on the up line along with bridge No. 133 between Sudhani and Telta station had been certified fit by the engineering department of Northeast Frontier Railway(NFR) on Tuesday.
The passenger train services to and fro the region, which have remained suspended since August 13 last, is expected to resume on September 3 next, according to the chief public relation officer (CPRO) of the NFR, P J Sharma informed.
The first goods train which left Sudhani station at 13-50 p.m. on Tuesday to arrive Telta at 14-25 p.m. ,passed over that section safely. The portion has been certified fit upto a maximum speed of Stop dead 10 KMPH,
The portion of repaired track will be kept under very close observation under the passage of goods trains and movements of passenger trains will be commenced from 3rd September. With the movements of goods trains, the flow of incoming essential commodities to the Northeast area will be restored. The speed restriction will continue and all trains in the effected section will ply at restricted speed till such time that permanent repairs are carried out. It is to be mentioned that very extensive damage has been caused in the vicinity of bridge no 133 with scouring to a depth of 12 to 15 meter and extent of 70 meter in the approach of the bridge.
It may be mentioned here that train services over parts of Bihar and West Bengal under Katihar and Alipurduar Divisions of N.F. Railway had to be suspended due large scale damage of track in many locations thereby disrupting direct train communication of NE Region with rest of the country.
Total Commercial loss to the railway due to disruption of train services amounts to Rs. 74.04 crs. This is in addition to the amount which has been refunded to passenger. The losses to other departments like Engineering, Signal & Telecommunication etc., are being assessed.