Railways carries out trial run of engine

The Railways have conducted engine trial run for the restoration of trains in Kangra valley. Sources said in a day or two, trial with coaches would be carried out between the Kangra and Nurpur Road (Jassur) stations. But the debris uphill at 84 km where a landslide washed away considerable portion of the track during this rainy season and the 86 km toll plaza site are still a cause for concern.

“The NH authorities have failed to show the concern expected of them, looking at the seriousness of the matter,” said the sources.

Meanwhile, Rajiv Bhardwaj, Member of Parliament from Kangra, has said that he will take up the matter with the NH authorities soon for the speedy resumption of the toy train which is off track since June last year. The two trains, presently running between Baijnath and Kangra stations, are likely to soon find an extension up to Nurpur Road.

Sources said looking at the heaps of stones and sinking fractured protection walls along the upcoming NH along the rail track near Ranital, the rail authorities are in no mood to take any risk whatsoever. They have deputed two watchmen on the NH and two on the track whenever a train crosses this risky site to ensure additional safety. The Railways officials, blaming the NH for this unusual delay, opined that if they had cooperated on time, the trains would have started long back.

‘Trains on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge line have been running smoothly since 1929, but trouble started since 2014,” said PC Vishavkarma who has been the strongest voice for the trains’ resumption. He has been blaming the Railways authorities for their “non-serious approach”. According to him, this historic track is a lifeline for hundreds of villages who are dependent on it. It remains to be seen when the trains resume their operations whistling beyond Kangra to reach Nurpur Road (Jassur).