1 week ago
Toy Train Collision Highlights Darjeeling’s Road-Rail Traffic Strain
A famous toy train in Darjeeling hit a car that was parked near its tracks.
Nobody was hurt, but the car was badly damaged.
The train and cars share a narrow road-and-rail route between Ghoom and Darjeeling.
This makes driving difficult, especially when many tourists visit.
Railway officials say similar accidents have become more common in some places.
The railway also runs extra joy rides because more tourists want to ride the train.
These rides help the railway earn more money.
Local residents say the growing number of cars and trains is putting pressure on the same 8km stretch.
Officials plan to discuss the problem and possible alternative roads.
A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train hit a car parked beside the tracks on the Ghoom-Darjeeling route around 6pm Tuesday.
No casualties were reported, but the car was badly damaged.
The railway said collisions have increased after tracks and roads were levelled together to create more space for vehicles.
The narrow 8km stretch carries rising road traffic and more than 10 seasonal joy rides during busy tourism periods.
Proposed alternative roads could eventually divert vehicles away from the congested route into Darjeeling.
- Who
- A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train and a parked car were involved; railway officials, residents and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista also commented.
- What
- The train struck the parked vehicle, damaging it without causing casualties, amid wider concerns about congestion and collisions.
- Where
- The Ghoom-Darjeeling stretch, an 8km route leading into Darjeeling, West Bengal.
- When
- Around 6pm on Tuesday; a similar incident occurred in July.
- Why
- Road vehicles and railway joy rides increasingly share a narrow route, creating congestion and limited space.
Railway Operations and Revenue
Road Safety and Traffic Management
More joy rides
Railway Operations and Revenue
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has little choice but to increase joy rides because they have helped improve passenger numbers and revenue.
Road Safety and Traffic Management
Residents say the increased frequency of joy rides adds pressure to a route already carrying more vehicles, especially during tourism season.
Shared road-and-rail space
Railway Operations and Revenue
Railway officials said levelling tracks and roads created more space for vehicles and that awareness drives have reduced collisions involving commercial vehicles.
Road Safety and Traffic Management
Local residents say the narrow shared stretch remains difficult and stressful to navigate, particularly for tourists unfamiliar with the route.
Alternative routes
Railway Operations and Revenue
Railway officials and Raju Bista have pointed to proposed roads that could bypass the congested Ghoom-Darjeeling stretch.
Road Safety and Traffic Management
Until those routes are approved and built, vehicles from several surrounding areas will continue converging at Ghoom to enter Darjeeling.
Key facts
- Incident
- A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train hit a parked car.
- Casualties
- No casualty was reported.
- Damage
- The car was badly damaged.
- Route length
- The affected Ghoom-Darjeeling stretch is about 8km long.
- Passenger footfall, 2024-25
- 1,83,003 passengers, generating ₹22.12 crore.
- Passenger footfall, 2025-26
- 2,15,432 passengers, generating ₹25.37 crore.
- Possible solution
- Alternative roads, including proposed routes from Darjeeling’s northern side, could bypass the stretch.
Quotes
a senior DHR official
Senior official of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
“Incidents (of collisions) involving commercial vehicles are on the decrease as we have undertaken special awareness drives among taxi drivers”
telegraphindia.com
“No casualty was reported, but the car was badly damaged”
telegraphindia.com
Raju Bista
Member of Parliament for Darjeeling
“We hear that an alternative road is also being proposed for Darjeeling and this might be a solution”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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