DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY TIMETABLE PAST AND PRESENT

Distance Km Station Altitude ft 1 up Mail (1935) 1D up Passenger (1999) 1D up Passenger (actual running time 1996) 9D up Passenger (1999) "School train" 2 Down Mail (1935) Down express (railmotor, 1935) 2D Down Passenger (1999) 10 D down Passenger (1999) "School train"
0 New Jalpaiguri 480 0900 0900 1745
7 Siliguri Junction 500 0650 0930-0935 0930-0935 2015 2025 1710-1715
18 Sukna 533 0716-0720 1003 1013-1018 1942 1958 1623
26 Rangtong 1400 ----- 1046 1105 ----- 1543
32 Chunabati 2000 ----- 1120 1145 ----- 1505
38 Tindharia 2822 0832-0838 1155 1230-1240 1824-1830 1440
44 Gayabari 3400 ---- 1234 1330 ----- 1400
50 Mahanadi 4025 ---- 1311 1415 ----- 1324
57 Kurseong arr 4864 0950 1406 1505 1712 1754 1247
Kurseong dep 1000 1416 1600 0640 1703 1744 1237 1900
65 Tung 5656 1033-1035 1454 1655 0724 1634 1158 1810
73 Sonada 6550 1105-1106 1537 1750 0811 1603 1115 1730
82 Ghum 7407 1141-1142 1625 1845 0905 1526-1529 1635 1033 1620
88 Darjeeling 6812 1206 1730 1915 0945 1500 1610 1000 1545

The DHR still runs about 2 trains in the up direction (1D and 9D) to Darjeeling and 2 trains downwards 2D and 10D) from Darjeeling as shown. In addition train nos. 3D (up) is supposed to run from New Jalpaiguri at 7.15AM to Darjeeling and 4D (down) from Darjeeling to New Jalpiguri at 8.25 AM. However these services may operate only in summer provided the motive power is available. In the 1930s, there used to be over a dozen trains in either direction of which only one is shown. The express on the down direction was probably a railmotor (?petrol with 14 seats). Comparing the timetable of 60 years ago it would seem that journey times have nearly doubled. The old engines have evidently become slower and need more time during stops to get the steam pressure up and the fireboxes cleaned.

Potentially, provided new engines (or old engines made new!) are available the DHR can run trains from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in 5 hours (it takes 3.5 hours by road). This could provide an eco friendly and financially viable alternative to diesel smoking buses and lorries to the tourists and local people. In Simla the successful diesel powered trains take 4.5 hours compared to 3 hours by road. A difference of 1.5 hours is perhaps acceptable to most people when choosing to go by "toy train". Diesel power has so far been unsuccessful on the DHR because of the narrow 2ft gauge winding track with 60ft radius curves and the severe gradient. New steam power is being sought, but is not on the scene yet.

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