Four Delhi-bound trains originating from East Central Railway’s Danapur division were cancelled at short notice on Friday after the Railway Board cited anticipated severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations on Saturday. The cancellations affected premier services used by passengers travelling from Bihar to the national capital.
The cancelled trains are the Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express (12309), Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Express (12393), Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express (22361) and Islampur–New Delhi Magadh Express (20801), according to railway sources in Danapur.
A Railway Board notification issued on Friday ordered the cancellation of mail and express trains scheduled to originate after 2 pm from the East Central Railway jurisdiction and reach Delhi between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday. The measure covered trains from the ECR jurisdiction that fell within the specified departure and arrival window.
The notification also led to the cancellation of other long-distance mail and express trains originating from or passing through different ECR divisions after 2 pm on Friday, sources said. The exact number of trains cancelled across the wider ECR network was not provided in the report.
The decision created difficulties for passengers who had booked tickets in advance, particularly those travelling on the four identified services. The short notice left passengers with limited time to make alternative travel arrangements, although the supplied railway information does not specify the refund process, replacement services or arrangements for affected travellers.
The cancellations came amid protests against the chief election commissioner. However, railway officials have not officially confirmed whether the demonstrations prompted the decision. The stated reason in the Railway Board notification was the expectation of severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.
The episode highlights how disruption around major railway terminals can affect long-distance services well beyond the city where the congestion is expected. New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin are arrival points for trains from the East Central Railway network, meaning operational restrictions in the capital can result in cancellations at originating stations in Bihar and other parts of the railway zone.
For passengers, the immediate issue remains the status of cancelled journeys and the availability of alternative connections. The Railway Board’s notification applied to trains meeting the specified timing and routing conditions, while railway sources said additional cancellations were made across ECR divisions. Further details on the total number of affected services were not provided.
