After a gap of nearly three years and nine months, train services on the Pathankot–Jogindernagar narrow-gauge railway line resumed on Tuesday, bringing much-awaited relief to thousands of passengers across Kangra and adjoining regions. The resumption of services was met with enthusiasm, with travelers expressing excitement on the very first day of operations.
Passengers highlighted the significant cost advantage of rail travel. While a bus journey to Jogindernagar costs around ₹392, the train fare is approximately ₹40 per passenger. Around 60 passengers traveled on the first train service of the day.
Two seven-coach trains departed from Pathankot on Tuesday morning. The first train (No. 62465) left Pathankot City Narrow-Gauge Railway Station at 5:00 a.m., followed by the second train (No. 52467) at 7:00 a.m. Train services from the Himachal Pradesh side commenced at 8:30 a.m. from Kangra Railway Station.
New ₹70-Crore Chakki Bridge Restores Connectivity
Rail services on the historic route had remained suspended since August 2023, when devastating floods caused a major portion of the Chakki Railway Bridge, located on the Punjab–Himachal Pradesh border, to collapse. The damage severed rail connectivity across the region and brought train operations to a complete halt.
To restore the vital link, the Ministry of Railways undertook reconstruction work on a war footing. A new state-of-the-art railway bridge was built at a cost of approximately ₹70 crore. Following extensive track inspections and successful trial runs conducted by senior railway officials, regular train services have now resumed.
Train Schedule
From Pathankot to Baijnath
Train No. 62465: Departure – 5:00 a.m.
Train No. 52467: Departure – 7:00 a.m.
From Baijnath to Pathankot
First Train: Departure – 2:15 p.m.
Second Train: Departure – 3:45 p.m.
The restored rail service was formally inaugurated by Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who flagged off the train on Tuesday. Among those present were Railway General Manager, Kangra MP Rajiv Bhardwaj, Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal, Nurpur MLA Ranvir Singh Nikka, BJP leader Vishwa Chakshu, senior railway officials, public representatives, and local residents.
Addressing the gathering, Thakur acknowledged that the restoration process had taken longer than expected but said the matter was consistently pursued with the Central Government and the Ministry of Railways.
“This railway line is not merely a mode of transport for the people of the hill regions—it is their lifeline. Continuous efforts were made to ensure its early restoration,” he said.
He further stated that the Central Government is also exploring the future conversion of the line into a broad-gauge railway track.
The resumption of train services has generated widespread enthusiasm in Kangra, Nurpur, Jawalamukhi, Palampur, and surrounding areas. Residents believe the restored rail link will not only provide affordable and convenient transportation but also boost tourism, trade, and economic activity across the region.
Locals expressed gratitude to the Central Government, the Railway Department, and public representatives for restoring the service. Thakur expressed confidence that further efforts would be made to enhance the safety and convenience of the railway line in the future.Commenting on the state’s political scenario, Anurag Thakur said that the results of the recently concluded Panchayati Raj, Municipal Corporation, and Urban Local Body elections reflected public sentiment toward the state government. He asserted that voters had conveyed a clear message through the election results.
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