Why the Major Disruption?
Chandigarh railway station is undergoing a massive redevelopment project managed by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to upgrade it to a world-class facility. The current 36-day power and traffic block, scheduled from September 10 to October
15, is essential for this upgrade. The work involves erecting a new roof structure and dismantling the old foot-over-bridge girders, tasks that cannot be completed while the station is fully operational. To manage the process, the Ambala Division of Northern Railway has divided the work into three 12-day phases, closing different sets of railway lines and platforms sequentially to keep parts of the station running.
Cancellations, Diversions, and Short Terminations
The 36-day block will see significant changes to train schedules, with the headline figure of '54 train trips' referring to services that will be short-terminated or short-originated. This means that instead of running to or from Chandigarh, these trains will start or end their journeys at Ambala Cantonment station. Beyond this, 12 train services are completely cancelled for the duration, leading to a total of 442 individual trip cancellations. A smaller number of trains will be diverted to run via alternate routes, bypassing Chandigarh altogether, while others will have temporary additional stops at stations like Mohali to ease the inconvenience for passengers.
Which Passengers Will Be Most Affected?
The impact will be felt by a wide range of travellers. Daily commuters who use passenger services between Chandigarh, Ambala, and Kalka will face outright cancellations of key trains. Long-distance travellers heading to destinations like Rajasthan, Mumbai, or Uttar Pradesh will find their trains either short-terminated at Ambala or running on a different schedule. For example, popular services like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath and the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express will operate only up to Ambala on specified dates, forcing passengers to arrange their own transport for the final leg to Chandigarh. Even passengers on premier trains like the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express will face changes, primarily in the form of different platform allocations, creating potential confusion.
The Ambala and Mohali Alternatives
Ambala Cantonment will become the main alternative hub during this period. Passengers booked on trains like the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express or Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath will have to deboard at Ambala and find other means to reach Chandigarh, and vice-versa for their return journey. This adds an extra leg to the journey that passengers must factor into their travel time and budget. To mitigate some of the disruption, the railways has also arranged for some long-distance trains, such as the Sambalpur-Jammu Tawi Express and the Dehradun-Amritsar Express, to have a temporary halt at Mohali (SAS Nagar) station.
Key Affected Train Services
While the full list is extensive, some of the key services affected by short-termination at Ambala include the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/12984), the Udaipur-Chandigarh Express (20989/20990), and the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express. Among the fully cancelled services for the entire block period are the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/14542), the Chandigarh-Ferozepur Express (14629/14630), and several passenger trains on the Ambala-Kalka and Delhi-Kalka routes. Additionally, platforms for around 76 trains, including the popular Delhi-bound Shatabdi, will be shifted at different points during the 36-day period.
What Should You Do If You're Travelling?
Given the scale and duration of these disruptions, it is crucial for all passengers to verify their train's status before heading to the station. Do not assume your train will run on its normal schedule or from its usual platform. The best sources for up-to-date information are the official National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website. You can also call the Rail Madad helpline at 139 or check with the station enquiry counter. For trains that are cancelled, passengers are entitled to a full refund. For those whose trains are now starting from Ambala or Mohali, planning for the additional travel time and cost to reach these stations is essential.
