Farakka rail restoration nearly complete, trial runs begin for North Bengal trains
Eastern Railway authorities on Saturday (September 5, 2026) said that the repair of railway tracks at Farakka in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, which suffered land subsidence earlier this week, is nearing completion. Trial runs on the restored stretch have begun, with a goods carriage passing through the down line to check the stability of the newly relaid tracks. Normal train services to North Bengal may resume soon, officials said.
Farakka serves as the gateway for most trains travelling to North Bengal and the northeastern States. The land subsidence, attributed to incessant rains and flooding in the area, cut off South Bengal’s connectivity with North Bengal and regions beyond. The first major subsidence was reported on Thursday (September 3), and a second one occurred on Friday (September 4) during restoration, further damaging the line and delaying the repair schedule.
As a result, most North Bengal-bound trains have been suspended since Thursday. Among the exceptions are the Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and, after restoration of their normal routes, the Silchar-Sealdah Kanchenjunga Express and Malda Town-Surat Express. Other services, however, remain cancelled, affecting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.
The cancellations have caused significant hardship, especially for tourists with bookings in the hill stations of North Bengal and the Northeast. A stranded passenger at a Kolkata bus terminus, whose train was cancelled, said private bus operators have sharply increased fares. “We already have bookings in the hills for our holiday. We cannot lose all the money just because the train was cancelled. But the bus cost us triple the amount as the train. Private bus operators are now demanding as much money as they want. Some are asking ₹4,000 for a ₹1,500 ticket,” he said.
To ease the situation, the West Bengal State Transport Department has started additional government bus services to and from North Bengal. The route is usually in high demand because of the region’s tourist attractions, and the disruption has upended many travel itineraries.
The restoration work involves continuous efforts by railway engineers and ground teams. Eastern Railway’s official social media handle said on Saturday that officers, engineers and ground teams are working in close coordination and are carefully inspecting every aspect to ensure safety and fitness before normal train operations are restored. Gitika Pandey, General Manager of Eastern Railway, also visited the affected area on Saturday to inspect the restoration progress.
No specific date has been announced for the resumption of full train services. Trial runs are being conducted on the repaired track as part of safety validation, and further trials may be required before passenger trains are allowed. Railway authorities have indicated that the work is in its final lap and normal services may start soon.
