Why the Major Disruption?
The massive changes to train schedules are necessary to facilitate a major infrastructure upgrade at the Chandigarh Railway Station. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) is undertaking the work as part of the station's redevelopment. The project
includes complex activities like erecting a 'balance through roof' structure and dismantling the old foot overbridge, which cannot be done safely with regular train traffic. This traffic block, divided into three 12-day phases, is a crucial step in modernising the station, which has been lagging in its redevelopment timeline. The goal is to enhance passenger amenities, improve accessibility with new lifts and escalators, and create a more modern and efficient transit hub.
Phased Work Schedule: September 10 to October 15
To manage the construction with minimal possible impact, the Ambala division has divided the 36-day block into three distinct phases. The first phase will run from September 10 to September 21. The second phase is scheduled from September 22 to October 3. The final phase will be from October 4 to October 15. Different railway lines and platforms will be affected during each phase, so passengers should be aware that disruptions could change depending on their date of travel.
Fully Cancelled Train Services
Indian Railways has announced the outright cancellation of 12 train services for the entire duration of the block, affecting a total of 442 individual trips. This will primarily impact passengers on routes connecting Chandigarh with nearby cities. Key services that will not run include the Amritsar-Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/14542) and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur-Chandigarh Express (14629/14630). Other cancelled trains include services on the Kalka-Ambala, Kalka-Delhi, and DLPC-Kalka routes, significantly affecting daily commuters and regional travellers.
Trains Diverted or Short-Terminated at Ambala
For many long-distance travellers, the biggest change will be the shifting of operations to Ambala Cantonment. A total of 54 train services will be either short-terminated at Ambala or will start their journey from there instead of Chandigarh. This means passengers booked to or from Chandigarh on these trains will have to deboard at Ambala and arrange their own transport for the last leg of their journey. Affected services include the popular Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/12984) and the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express on specific dates. This effectively takes Chandigarh off the map for these trains during the block period, so checking your train’s terminating or originating station is crucial.
Changes at Mohali and Platform Shifts
To ease the inconvenience, some trains will now operate from Mohali railway station instead of Chandigarh. Additionally, several long-distance trains, such as the Amritsar-Dehradun Express (14631/14632), will be given a temporary stop at Mohali. Travellers should also be prepared for last-minute platform changes at Chandigarh station for the trains that are still running. During the final phase (October 4-15), even the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011) will shift from its usual Platform 1 to Platform 5. Always check the digital display boards and listen to announcements at the station, as pre-assigned platform numbers may not be accurate.
