SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 29: Passenger train services resumed finally after 65 hours of derailment on the Howrah- New Delhi Grand Chord line under the Dhanbad Rail Division of East Central Railway (ECR) zone on Friday night around 11:20 PM.
Though the divisional railway cleared up and down line at 1 pm on Friday, only goods were allowed to cross. Passenger trains were allowed to run only after 11.20 PM.
Dhanbad Rail Division senior official said Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani train was the first passenger train to run on the up line at 11:20 PM followed by Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and others.
The official said at 12 PM, down line track was also opened for trains and thereafter normal services were completely restored. “From today all trains of Grand Chord line would run as per their scheduled time and track,” the official said.
The trains’ movement on the Grand Chord line had been completely paralysed after the derailment of 53 wagons of a coal-laden goods train near Gurupa railway station between the Gomoh–Gaya rail section at 6:20 AM on Wednesday.
Following the derailment of goods train wagons near Gurupa railway station, half a dozen trains were cancelled and railway authorities diverted the route of 58 express trains. All long route up and down trains were diverted through Patna’s main line.
The train service on the Grand Chord line had been completely paralysed for three-day and passengers, especially those who had booked reservations on different trains had to face a massive problem. At Dhanbad railway station, the rail authorities had to face the wrath of passengers due to the sudden diversion of Howrah-Delhi up and down trains.
