Railway authorities on Saturday began trial runs on the repaired track near New Farakka station in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, marking a significant step towards restoring normal train services through Farakka. With no rain reported since Saturday morning, repair work on the damaged section progressed rapidly, allowing the Railways to test the line later in the day.
However, passenger and express trains will not be allowed to operate on the track immediately. Railway officials said the trial run must first be completed successfully, after which a two-coach inspection van may be operated to assess the condition of the repaired section. This will be followed by a test run involving a train fitted with LHB coaches. Passenger services will resume only after the track receives the necessary safety clearance.
The Railways is hopeful that train services through Farakka can be brought back to normal by Saturday night, provided weather conditions remain favourable. Eastern Railway’s Malda division DRM Itajit Kaur said teams were working round the clock to complete the repairs, but warned that renewed rainfall could severely hamper the operation. She said passenger safety remained the top priority and that the Railways would not compromise on safety while trying to restore services quickly.
A power block was also undertaken on Saturday to facilitate the repair work, with electricity supply to the affected section completely disconnected following discussions between Eastern Railway headquarters in Kolkata and the Malda control room. Railway workers used heavy machinery, including large JCB excavators and 18 jacks, to lift the damaged track. Trains being diverted through alternative routes have been operated with diesel locomotives, with at least 160 trains reportedly running on diesel since Saturday morning, adding around an hour to their journey times.
The damaged track is located next to a waterbody, prompting the Railways to undertake additional reinforcement work along the pond to prevent further soil erosion and subsidence. Medical teams have also been kept on standby as workers continue to operate in muddy and potentially hazardous conditions. The final resumption of passenger services will depend on the outcome of the successive safety tests and the condition of the track.
