Why the Major Disruption?
Indian Railways has announced a 36-day power and traffic block at Chandigarh railway station, scheduled from September 10 to October 15. This extended disruption is necessary to facilitate a major upgrade of the station's infrastructure, 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 old foot-overbridge. According to railway officials, this work is critical for the long-term modernisation of the station but cannot be completed while the station is fully operational. To manage the work, the Ambala Division of Northern Railway has divided the block into three 12-day phases, affecting different platforms and lines sequentially.
Phased Work and Platform Changes
The construction will be carried out in stages to minimise the impact. The first phase runs from September 10 to 21, affecting platforms 5 and 6. The second phase, from September 22 to October 3, will impact platforms 3 and 4. The final phase, from October 4 to 15, will involve work on platforms near lines 1, 2, and 3. This phased approach means that passengers cannot rely on their usual platform numbers. During the first phase alone, the berthing of 20 different trains will be changed. Popular services like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express will see platform changes during the disruption period. Passengers are strongly advised to check station display boards and listen to announcements for the correct platform information on their day of travel.
Cancelled Train Services
A significant number of services will be completely cancelled for the duration of the block. In total, 12 train services are being cancelled, which amounts to 442 individual trips being affected between September 9 and October 16. Among the major services cancelled are the Chandigarh-Amritsar-Chandigarh Express (14541/14542) and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur-Chandigarh Express (14629/14630). Other cancelled services include trains on the Kalka-Ambala, Delhi-Kalka, and Ambala-Jalandhar City routes, severely impacting daily and intercity commuters. Passengers with bookings on these trains should check for refund procedures and consider alternative travel arrangements.
Short Terminations and Diversions
Many long-distance trains will not reach Chandigarh at all, instead being 'short-terminated' at nearby stations. Ambala Cantonment will become a key alternative station, with at least 54 train trips now originating or terminating there instead of Chandigarh. This includes popular trains like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath (12983/12984) and the Ramnagar-Chandigarh Express, which will operate only up to Ambala on specific dates. For passengers on these services, this means they will have to arrange their own transport for the Ambala-Chandigarh leg of their journey. Furthermore, some trains will be diverted to bypass Chandigarh completely, while others will be given temporary stops at SAS Nagar (Mohali) to ease the passenger rush.
What Passengers Must Do
Given the scale of these changes, planning ahead is essential. The most critical advice from railway officials is to check the live status of your train before leaving for the station. Do not assume your train is running on its normal schedule or from its usual platform. Passengers can use the official NTES (National Train Enquiry System) app or website for the most accurate, up-to-date information. Alternatively, you can call the Rail Madad helpline at 139 or check with station enquiry counters. If your journey involves originating from or terminating at Chandigarh, double-check whether your train has been shifted to Ambala or Mohali. This proactive check will save you time and prevent significant travel headaches.
