A toy train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) derailed near Darjeeling town on Thursday, the fourth such incident in the last 20 days.
Since December 15, toy trains of the DHR, recognized as a World Heritage property by UNESCO, have derailed at various locations in the hills. Although no injuries were reported in any of the incidents, repeated derailments have raised questions about whether the heritage railway’s tracks and rolling stock are being properly maintained.A Toy The train, consisting of a steam loco and two coaches and meant for pleasure rides, derailed at Kakjhor near Darjeeling town around 2 pm on Thursday. The train was going towards Ghoom.
“Since the area is near Darjeeling station, staff and technical experts rushed to the spot. They were able to get the loco back on track in an hour, after which the train left for Ghoom. There were 59 passengers on board and all of them were safe,” said a DHR source.
Joy Ride – a return journey from Darjeeling to Ghoom – is the most popular toy train service among tourists in the hills. Hundreds of tourists take advantage of the trip every day.
Sources said toy trains meant for Anand’s ride had derailed on December 15 and January 1. Regular service between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri was affected on December 20 as a steam loco derailed near Mahanadi. Later it was taken to DHR’s workshop at Tindhariya for maintenance work.
The back-to-back derailments prompted railway officials to launch an investigation.
Sabyasachi De, chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, said, “Our technical experts are investigating to find out the cause of the derailment. We will take action on the report submitted by them.”
Tourism industry stakeholders expressed concern over the derailment incidents.
“If toy trains derail frequently, it will discourage tourists from riding. These incidents may affect tourist inflow. Railways should ensure that the tracks, coaches and locos are properly maintained,” said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary, Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.
