But why should Passengers from Jalpaiguri town suffer?
Pre and post independence They used to get this legacy service. During pre independence the train used to run from Calcutta(Now Sealdah) to Siliguri via Hardinge bridge, parbatipur, haldibari and Jalpaiguri Town. After that before commission of Farakka barrge that used to run via Rajmahal maniharighat transporting passengers through steamer.
Then via katihar and kishangunj. Infact Bihar ka laddoo foota.
Present...
more... route came only after commissioning of farakka.
Darjeeling mail encompasses emotion and legacy of Siliguri as well as of Jalpaiguri town also.
LHB introduction stripped off slip coach benefits as well as hurt emotion of residents of Jalpaiguri town.
By extending upto Jpg/Haldibari now NFR have tried to compensate that loss.
Compensation thoda zyada hi ho gaya I must admit.
If we count on avg speed, then Dbrt rajdhani should not go beyond GHY.
I think Padatik exp should not be extended beyond NJP.