Local train services hit after Kalka Mail derails in Howrah

KOLKATA: Local train services of South Eastern Railway (SER) were affected early on Sunday after an empty rake of Kalka Mail derailed while being taken to platform 9 of Howrah station from the sorting yard. Thirty-one local trains in early morning had to be cancelled and several long distance trains had to be short terminated at Santragachi after the derailment that occurred around 1.47am.
Normalcy in train services was restored around 6.25pm. Complete fitness of the points was obtained only at 12.20pm.
“When the empty rake was being taken to Howrah, the second and third coaches from the rear end derailed. While 1 to 8 No. platforms could be used for train movement, the services from other platforms were affected. An accident relief train began operations at 3.23am. The coaches of the train were separated and moved to the platform, clearing platforms 9 and beyond,” an Eastern Railway official said.
A number of long-distance trains left Santragachi instead of Howrah. The trains that left from Howrah like the Dhauli Express, Barbil Janshatabdi, Tamralipta Express and Ispat Express were delayed.