Landslide derails India toy train

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Darjeeling toy train's birthday

The famous toy train service that ferries tourists in India's tea country in Darjeeling has been hit by a huge landslide in the hill region.

India's north-eastern frontier railway spokesman S Hajong told the BBC that the landslide on Tuesday destroyed about 20m of railway track.

The steam engines of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway are a Unesco World Heritage site.

Its antique steam engines are a great draw with tourists.

Annual loss

"The track is now partially hanging by the hillside. Unless it is restored, the toy train services cannot be resumed," Mr Hajong said. "And the restoration will take a while."

The coal-powered train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is famed throughout the world.

Tourism is just beginning to pick up again in Darjeeling after several months of violent agitation for a separate state staged by the region's predominantly Gorkha population.

The toy train journey in the eastern state starts from the plains town of New Jalpaiguri and goes to the hill town of Darjeeling via Ghoom.

The 128-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in December 1999.

However, the railway incurs an estimated 70m rupee ($1.6m) loss annually.