Nepal is sending both of its trains to Lucknow, India, for scheduled maintenance nearly four years after they were first put into operation.

According to Niranjan Jha, managing director of Nepal Railway Company, the trains will undergo Periodical Overhauling (POH) at an Indian Railways workshop in Lucknow starting Sunday. “POH involves complete maintenance of all parts of the train. This is routine upkeep,” Jha said.

While the Nepal-owned trains are under repair, services will continue with a replacement train provided by India. This train, however, does not have air-conditioned coaches. “The Indian train has only general class coaches,” Jha said. “It will operate three daily trips on the Jayanagar–Janakpur route and one trip on the Janakpur–Bhangaha section during the maintenance period.”

Tula Dangi, acting administrative officer at Nepal Railway Company, said the overhauling in Lucknow will include repairs of wheels, engines, bogies, seats, and other components. Some AC coach seats in the Nepali trains had torn or broken parts, which will be fixed during the overhaul.

Initially, India had sought charges for using the railway route up to Lucknow, but later waived all fees for track use, maintenance, and the replacement train, according to officials.

The replacement train from Sakurbasti, India, with six general coaches, will operate using only one engine while in Nepal.