On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Malda Court – Siliguri DMU (Train 75719) came to a sudden halt at Thakurganj railway station in Kishanganj district. The loco pilot refused to move the train further, stating that his mandatory 9-hour duty period had ended. This caused a significant disruption, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded for several hours on Platform 1 of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone.
How was the train service resumed at Thakurganj?
The train reached Thakurganj station at 2:52 PM and remained stationary for nearly four hours. Following the loco pilot refusal, railway authorities arranged a relief driver from Siliguri Junction. Relief driver Saurav Kumar reached the station around 7:30 PM. Once the new crew took over, the train finally resumed its journey toward Siliguri. Many passengers, unable to wait, had already opted for alternative transport like buses or private vehicles to reach their destinations in North Bengal.
What are the 9-hour duty rules for Indian Railways?
According to safety norms implemented by the Indian Railways Safety Department, loco pilots are generally instructed not to work more than 9 hours at a stretch. This policy aims to prevent fatigue-related accidents and ensure the safety of passengers and railway assets. The total duty from sign-on to sign-off is usually capped at 11 hours. In this instance, the lack of a pre-arranged relief crew at the end of the driver shift led to the operational failure at Thakurganj station. The incident highlights the challenges in crew management on this specific route.
- Train Number: 75719 (Malda-Siliguri DMU)
- Arrival at Thakurganj: 2:52 PM
- Relief Driver Arrival: 7:30 PM
- Railway Zone: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)
- Key Reason: Driver adherence to 9-hour duty limit