Why the Major Disruption?
The service changes are necessary due to a massive 36-day power and traffic block at the Chandigarh railway station, scheduled from September 10 to October 15. This lengthy disruption is required for major redevelopment work being carried out by the Rail
Land Development Authority (RLDA). The project involves erecting a new through-roof structure and dismantling the girders of the existing foot-over-bridge, work that cannot be done while the station is fully operational. To manage the process, the work has been divided into three 12-day phases, affecting different sets of railway lines and platforms sequentially.
Which Trains Are Cancelled?
A total of 12 train services will be cancelled throughout the block period, which amounts to 442 individual trips being affected. This will significantly impact passengers traveling on routes connecting Chandigarh with destinations like Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kalka, and Delhi. Key cancellations include the Amritsar-Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/42) and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur-Chandigarh Express (14629/30). Other cancelled services include trains on the Kalka-Ambala, Kalka-Delhi, and Ambala-Jalandhar routes, disrupting daily commuter and long-distance travel alike.
Short-Terminations and Diversions
Many trains will not be cancelled outright but will be short-terminated or will originate from stations other than Chandigarh. For many services, Ambala Cantonment will become the main alternative station. This means passengers ticketed to or from Chandigarh on these trains will have to deboard at Ambala and arrange for alternative transport for the final leg of their journey. Affected services include the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express, Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath, and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express, which will be curtailed at Ambala on specific dates. Additionally, some trains like the Lalkuan-Amritsar Express will be diverted via Ambala-Sirhind-Sanehwal, completely skipping Chandigarh and Mohali on certain days.
Platform Changes and Mohali Halts
Even for trains that continue to operate from Chandigarh, passengers must remain alert for last-minute changes. The platforms for approximately 20 trains will be changed during the first phase of work (September 10-21) alone. Major services like the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express will also see platform shifts, particularly in the final phase from October 4 to 15. To help ease the inconvenience, Railways has announced temporary additional halts at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) station for eight long-distance trains, including the Sambalpur-Jammu Tawi Express and the Dehradun-Amritsar Express.
What Should Travelers Do?
Given the scale of these disruptions, assuming your travel plans are unaffected is not an option. The most crucial step for anyone travelling between September 10 and October 15 is to verify their train's status before leaving home. Passengers are strongly advised to use official channels for the latest information. You can check the live status, schedule, and platform details through the NTES (National Train Enquiry System) app or website. Alternatively, you can call the RailMadad helpline at 139 for real-time updates and assistance. Station announcements and display boards will also be critical sources of information on the day of travel. Factoring in extra travel time, especially if you need to travel between Chandigarh and Ambala, is also highly recommended.
