Why The Major Disruption?
Passengers travelling through the region will face significant inconvenience as Northern Railway's Ambala Division undertakes a massive infrastructure overhaul at Chandigarh station. The 36-day power and traffic block, scheduled from September 10 to October
15, is necessary for the next phase of the station's redevelopment. The project, managed by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), involves erecting a modern through-roof structure and dismantling the old foot-over-bridge girders. While the work will cause short-term pain, it is part of a larger plan to modernise the station and improve passenger facilities for the long term. Officials stated the work cannot be completed while the station is fully operational, necessitating these planned disruptions.
Cancellations and Short-Terminations
The impact on train services is extensive and multifaceted. The most severe measure is the outright cancellation of 12 train services, which amounts to a total of 442 individual trips being cancelled between September 9 and October 16. This includes popular routes such as the Amritsar-Chandigarh and Chandigarh-Ferozepur expresses. In addition, the headline change affecting 54 train trips involves short-termination or short-origination. This means dozens of trains that would normally start or end their journey at Chandigarh will now do so at Ambala Cantt. Passengers booked on services like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath or the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express will find their journeys curtailed at Ambala, requiring them to arrange alternative transport to or from Chandigarh.
Diversions, New Stops and Platform Changes
Beyond cancellations, travellers should be aware of several other adjustments. Some trains will be diverted entirely, bypassing Chandigarh altogether on certain dates. For instance, the Lalkuan-Amritsar Express will be rerouted via Sirhind on specific days. To help alleviate some of the pressure, the Railways has also designated temporary new stops at SAS Nagar (Mohali) for eight long-distance trains, including the Amritsar-Dehradun Express. Perhaps the most widespread change is the platform reshuffle. A total of 76 trains, including high-demand services like the Delhi-bound Shatabdi and the Vande Bharat Express, will arrive and depart from different platforms than scheduled during the 36-day period.
A Phased Approach to Minimize Impact
To manage the extensive work while keeping the station partially functional, the Ambala Division has structured the block into three distinct 12-day phases. Each phase will focus on different railway lines and platforms, allowing other parts of the station to continue operating. The first phase runs from September 10 to 21, impacting lines 6, 7, and 8. The second phase follows from September 22 to October 3, affecting lines 4 and 5. The final phase is scheduled from October 4 to 15, during which work will proceed on lines 1, 2, and 3. This phased strategy is designed to prevent a complete shutdown of one of the region's busiest railway hubs.
What This Means For Your Travel
For the thousands of passengers who use these services daily, the next month will require careful planning. The most critical advice from railway officials is to verify your train's status before leaving for the station. Do not assume your train is running on its normal schedule, route, or platform. Passengers are urged to use the NTES mobile app, the Rail Madad helpline at 139, or contact the station enquiry counter for the most current information. If your train has been short-terminated or will now originate from Ambala or Mohali, remember that you will need to make your own travel arrangements for the final leg of your journey between that station and Chandigarh.
