What's Happening and Why?
Chandigarh railway station is undergoing a massive upgrade, and the next phase requires a significant power and traffic block for 36 days, starting September 10 and lasting until October 15. This disruption is necessary for the Rail Land Development Authority
(RLDA) to carry out crucial engineering work, including erecting a new through-roof structure and dismantling the old foot-over-bridge. While the long-term goal is a modernised, world-class station, the immediate impact will be widespread changes to train schedules. Passengers will face a combination of cancellations, diversions, and short-terminations, meaning many trains will not reach Chandigarh at all.
A Phased Disruption Plan
To minimise the impact and keep parts of the station operational, the Ambala Division of Northern Railway has structured the work into three 12-day phases. Each phase will target different railway lines and platforms. The first phase runs from September 10 to 21, affecting lines 6, 7, and 8. The second phase, from September 22 to October 3, will focus on lines 4 and 5. Finally, the third phase from October 4 to 15 will impact lines 1, 2, and 3. This phased approach means the nature of disruptions, including platform changes for operating trains, will vary throughout the 36-day period.
Cancellations, Diversions, and Short-Terminations
The headline's '54 trains skipping' refers to 54 train trips that will be 'short-terminated' or 'short-originated'. This means they will end their journey before Chandigarh or start their journey from a different station. For most of these services, Ambala Cantonment will become the temporary endpoint or starting point. Key services like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/12984) and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express (20989/20990) will be terminated at Ambala on specific dates. Beyond this, twelve train services will be cancelled entirely for the duration of the block, resulting in 442 individual trip cancellations. This includes popular routes like the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express and the Chandigarh-Firozpur Express. A few other trains will be diverted to bypass Chandigarh completely.
Your New Boarding Points: Ambala and Mohali
For the 54 train services being short-terminated, Ambala Cantt will serve as the main alternative hub. Passengers booked to or from Chandigarh on these trains will have to deboard at Ambala and arrange their own transport for the final leg of the journey. Similarly, those starting their journey will need to travel to Ambala to board. To ease the inconvenience for passengers, Indian Railways has also announced temporary additional stops at SAS Nagar (Mohali) for eight long-distance trains. These include services like the Sambalpur-Jammu Tawi Express and the Agra Cantt-Hoshiarpur Express, providing another option for travellers in the region.
How to Plan Your Journey
With schedules and platforms in flux, planning ahead is essential. Firstly, do not assume your train is running as scheduled, even if you have an advance booking. Always check the latest status of your train before leaving home. You can use the NTES app, the Rail Madad helpline (139), or station enquiry counters for the most up-to-date information. Be prepared for platform changes for the trains that are still operating from Chandigarh, including major services like the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express. Finally, if your train is now operating from Ambala or Mohali, factor in the extra time and cost required to travel between there and Chandigarh.
