Why The Disruption Is Happening
The large-scale changes are necessary to facilitate a major upgrade of the Chandigarh Railway Station. According to the Ambala Division of Northern Railway, the block is required for the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to undertake significant
infrastructure work. This includes erecting a new through-roof structure and dismantling the old foot-over-bridge (FOB) girders. While causing temporary inconvenience, this project is part of a long-term plan to modernise the station and improve passenger facilities and operational safety.
Key Dates and Phased Work
The disruption is not constant but phased over the 36-day period from September 10 to October 15, 2026. The work is divided into three 12-day phases to minimise the overall impact and keep parts of the station operational. The phases will affect different sets of railway lines and platforms sequentially: - Phase 1 (September 10 to 21): Affects lines 6, 7, and 8. - Phase 2 (September 22 to October 3): Affects lines 4 and 5. - Phase 3 (October 4 to 15): Affects lines 1, 2, and 3. Passengers should note that platform allocations for many trains will change throughout this period.
Cancelled, Diverted, and Short-Terminated Trains
The headline figure of 54 services refers to a combination of cancellations, diversions, and short-terminations. According to railway officials, 12 train services will be fully cancelled for the entire duration, which amounts to 442 individual trips. Notable cancellations include the Amritsar-Chandigarh Express (14541/42) and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur Express (14629/30). Many other trains will be short-terminated or short-originated, meaning they will not travel the full length of their original route. For many passengers, this means their journey will now start or end at Ambala Cantonment station instead of Chandigarh. Key trains like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/84) and the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express will be curtailed at Ambala on specific dates. This will require passengers to arrange alternative transport between Ambala and Chandigarh. A few services, like the Lalkuan-Amritsar Superfast Express, will be diverted via Sirhind, skipping Chandigarh entirely on certain days.
Changes to Shatabdi and Other Major Services
Even premium trains like the Shatabdi Express are not immune to the disruption. During the final phase of the block (October 4-15), the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011), which normally uses Platform 1, will be shifted to Platform 5 at Chandigarh. The corresponding Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi (12012) will also see platform changes. The Vande Bharat Express and the Howrah-Kalka Mail are among the 76 trains that will experience changes in their berthing platforms at various points during the 36-day period. Commuters who rely on these trains are strongly advised not to depend on their usual platform knowledge and to check station displays.
What Passengers Should Do
Given the scale of these temporary changes, planning ahead is essential. All passengers with travel booked to or from Chandigarh between September 10 and October 15 should verify their train's status before heading to the station. The best resources for the latest information are the official NTES (National Train Enquiry System) app and the Rail Madad helpline at number 139. Passengers whose trains have been shifted to Ambala or Mohali will need to factor in additional travel time and cost to reach these stations. For fully cancelled trains, Indian Railways' standard refund policies will apply. Railway officials have stated that additional staff will be deployed to guide passengers at the station.
