GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier Railway has resumed train services along the heritage narrow gauge in Darjeeling Himalaya Railway after a long disruption of 127 days due to violence and arson in troubled Darjeeling because of Gorkhaland movement led by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM). The trains services have partially resumed in Darjeeling Himalayan Railway because of improvement in the situation.
The N F Railway claims that the suspension of train services alone has caused a loss of around Rs. 3.8 crore and the loss due to damages to the property are yet to be quantified. The N F Railway authority started inspection, repairing and restoration of the long unused track to make them safe for train operations as soon as the strike was lifted on September 27 last.
A special train named ‘Paryavaran Parv Special train’ has started running between Siliguri and Sukna forest following repair, maintenance and restoration of track lying unused in the section, a spokesman of the Northeast Frontier Railway said.
Restoration of the rest of the 87-km line is going on fast and normal train running would be resumed in few days. The special train leaves Siliguri at 09.00 A.M. to reach Sukna at 09.35 A.M. On the return journey, the train leaves Sukna at 10.05 A.M. to arrive at Siliguri at 10.50 A.M. It would be a daily service with three first class coaches running up to October 25 catering mainly to tourists.
Train services in Darjeeling Himalayan Railway had to be stopped after violence and arson break out in the hills following the indefinite strike called by GJM in Darjeeling Hills from 11th June 2017. During the strike two stations – Gayabari and Sonada – on the line were damaged.