As many as 105 trains on Eastern Railway and 75 others on South Eastern Railway’s network were left stranded in seven divisions on Tuesday after the eastern grid collapsed, completely stalling train services for about four hours.
Eastern Railway sources said that arrangements were made for diesel engines to run long-distance trains which were stranded at various places.
Railway engineers were successful in hauling Sealdah - bound Rajdhani Express, Patna-Howrah Janshatabdi Express, Kalka-Howrah Mail and Howrah-bound Rajdhani Express with diesel engines, the sources said.
With power utility CESC diverting 10 MW through the Titagarh grid, some EMU trains were run up to Kalyani from 2:50 p.m.
The South Eastern Railway (SER) said 75 trains, including 40 long-distance ones, were detained at different places from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Railway sources said normal services resumed from 3:45 p.m. the Chakradharpur, Rourkela-Jharsuguda section. Normalcy was also reported from Ranchi, Kharagpur, Adra divisions.
The SER cancelled the Howrah-Digha Kandari Express.
Serious disruptions were reported from Malda and Asansol divisions.
Thousands of passengers were inconvenienced at stations, while officials at enquiry counters in Howrah and Sealdah stations had a busy time coping with anxious queries.
