Train services between North, South Bengal to be restored soon as damaged track repaired: Official

Train services between North and south Bengal are likely to be restored soon as a damaged section near New Farakka station in Murshidabad district has been repaired and a trial run conducted on Saturday, an Eastern Railway official said.

Railway personnel bolstered the section of the stretch between Tilpara and New Farakka, which had suffered soil subsidence on Thursday following heavy rain, affecting train services between the two regions of the state. Sandbags have been used to strengthen the base of the tracks.

Railway engineers were conducting final safety and signalling checks before allowing passenger trains to resume operations through the section, the official said.

Several trains have been cancelled, while a number of long-distance services have been diverted through alternative routes following the subsidence.

Several important passenger trains connecting New Jalpaiguri and Sealdah in Kolkata, including Darjeeling Mail, Padatik Express and Kanchankanya Express, were cancelled on Saturday because of the disruption.

Other affected trains included the Saraighat Express, Uttar Banga Express, Tebhaga Express, Teesta Torsa Express, Humsafar Express and several local passenger and MEMU services.

Among the services restored were the Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and the Howrah-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express. A number of trains were diverted through other routes, he added.