The historic Kangra Valley Railway came back to life on Tuesday as train services on the Pathankot–Jogindernagar narrow-gauge line resumed after remaining suspended for nearly four years following the collapse of the Chakki railway bridge during the floods in August 2022.The services were restored after Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Kangra MP Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj flagged off the train from the Kangra railway station. The event was attended by Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal, Nurpur MLA Ranbir Singh Nikka, Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar, railway officials and local residents who gathered to witness the long-awaited revival of the iconic rail service.The resumption of train operations marks a significant step in restoring connectivity in the region, with the narrow-gauge railway considered a lifeline for thousands of people living in rural parts of Kangra and Mandi districts. The service is also expected to provide a major boost to tourism in the scenic Kangra Valley, known for its picturesque landscapes and heritage attractions.Addressing the gathering, Anurag Thakur said the restoration of the railway service reflected the Centre’s commitment to improving connectivity and infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. He recalled that rail operations had been severely disrupted after the interstate Chakki railway bridge near Kandwal on the Himachal Pradesh-Punjab border was washed away during the floods in August 2022.Thakur said that the issue was consistently raised before the Union Government, following which the Railways undertook reconstruction of the bridge at an estimated cost of around Rs 70 crore. Built using modern engineering techniques, the new bridge has paved the way for the resumption of train services on the route.“The revival of rail services will boost tourism, improve transportation facilities for local residents and create new opportunities for employment and economic growth in the region,” he said, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for prioritising railway development in the hill state.Highlighting investments in the railway sector, Thakur said the Union Budget 2026-27 had allocated Rs 2,911 crore for railway expansion, modernisation, electrification and safety projects in the state. He added that railway projects worth Rs 17,711 crore were currently under implementation in the state, while four railway stations were being redeveloped under the Amrit Station Scheme.Kangra MP Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj said that strengthening rail connectivity in the hill state would accelerate development and improve access to remote areas. He described the resumption of services as an important milestone for the region.The restoration of the Kangra Valley Railway, one of India’s most scenic narrow-gauge routes, has been widely welcomed by residents, traders and tourism stakeholders who had been awaiting the return of train services since their suspension nearly four years ago.