Chandigarh: Services of the Kalka-Shimla Express, Shivalik Deluxe Express and Himalayan Queen have been suspended after a culvert near Bridge No. 57 on the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla railway section was washed away following heavy rain on Aug 30. The cancellations will remain in force for different services till Sep 11 or Sep 13.Kalka-Shimla Passenger (52457-58), Kalka-Shimla Express (52453-54) and Himalayan Queen (52455-56) have been cancelled till Sep 11, while Shivalik Deluxe Express (52451-52) and Kalka-Shimla Express (52459-60) have been cancelled till Sep 13The culvert, between Gumman and Taksal stations near Koti, was swept away by strong water currents, leaving a stretch of track suspended over a deep gorge.The Railways has taken up restoration work on priority, but officials said passenger safety would take precedence over an early resumption. Yashanjeet Singh, senior divisional commercial manager, Ambala division, said efforts were on to restore the track at the earliest.The washout has severely damaged the railway infrastructure and is expected to require substantial engineering work. Officials are assessing the damage and monitoring weather conditions before allowing train operations to resume.The suspension has affected passengers who booked tickets weeks or months in advance. The Railways is processing refunds for cancelled bookings. Passengers who booked tickets at stations can claim refunds from the respective counters, while online bookings will be refunded to their accounts within 24 hours of cancellation, officials said.
