Why The Major Disruption?
Indian Railways has scheduled a 36-day power and traffic block at Chandigarh station from September 10 to October 15, 2026. This major undertaking is necessary for the next phase of the station's redevelopment, which is being handled by the Rail Land
Development Authority (RLDA). The core tasks involve erecting a new 'through-roof' structure and dismantling the girders of the existing foot-overbridge (FOB). This work cannot be completed while the station is fully operational, leading to the phased block to minimise overall impact while allowing the crucial upgrades to proceed. These enhancements are part of a larger project to modernise the station and improve passenger amenities.
Key Dates and Phases
The disruption is not uniform but is broken into three 12-day phases to manage the workload and keep parts of the station functional. The entire block runs from September 10 to October 15. The phases are scheduled as follows: Phase 1 from September 10 to September 21; Phase 2 from September 22 to October 3; and Phase 3 from October 4 to October 15. Different lines and platforms will be affected during each specific phase, so the impact on your particular train might vary depending on when you travel.
Fully Cancelled Trains
A significant number of services will be completely cancelled for the entire duration of the block, affecting 442 individual trips in total. Passengers with bookings on these trains should make alternative arrangements. The major cancelled services include: the Delhi-Kalka Express (14331/14332), the Ambala-Kalka passenger (54531/54532), the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/14542), and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur Express (14629/14630). Other cancelled routes include the Ambala-Jalandhar City passenger and the Ambala-Daulatpur Chowk services.
Partial Cancellations: Short-Terminated Trains
Many trains will not reach Chandigarh at all, instead starting or ending their journeys at nearby stations. Ambala Cantonment will become a key alternative hub. For example, trains from Udaipur (20989) and Ajmer (12983) to Chandigarh will be 'short-terminated' at Ambala on specific dates in September and October. Similarly, the return services will originate from Ambala instead of Chandigarh. This means the Ambala-Chandigarh leg of the journey is cancelled for these trains, and passengers will need to arrange their own transport between the two cities.
Diverted Routes and Platform Changes
A few trains will be diverted to bypass Chandigarh completely. The Lalkuan-Amritsar Express, for instance, will be diverted via Sirhind on October 3 and 10, skipping both Chandigarh and Mohali stations. Perhaps the most widespread issue for travellers will be the constant change in platforms. Around 76 different train services will see their platforms shuffled throughout the 36-day period. This includes popular trains like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat services. For example, from October 4 to 15, the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011) will shift from its usual Platform 1 to Platform 5.
What Travellers Must Do
Given the scale of these changes, assuming your train is running as scheduled could lead to major problems. The railways have strongly advised all passengers to verify the status of their train before leaving for the station. You can use the official NTES app, the Rail Madad helpline at number 139, or check with the enquiry counter at the station. Do not rely on previously printed platform information; always check the display boards and listen for announcements upon arriving at the station. To ease congestion at Chandigarh, eight long-distance trains will also get a temporary stop at Mohali (SAS Nagar).
