Rail services linking Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh with Delhi have been disrupted on October 10, with 29 trains, including the Kalka Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi from Chandigarh, cancelled in response to a protest call in the national capital.
The cancellations, which also affect the Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi, apply only to October 10, according to information reported by Times of India – Chandigarh. Several trains originating from Amritsar, Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Jammu Tawi, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Daulatpur Chowk and Una are also among those cancelled.
The cancellations were announced in view of a protest call by the Cockroach Janata Party in Delhi. The report did not provide details of the protest route, the specific security assessment or the locations where rail operations could be affected.
The Ambala division of Northern Railway has deployed officers and staff around the clock at major stations, including Ambala, Saharanpur and Bathinda, to assist passengers and provide updated information. A divisional control room is operating 24 hours a day in shifts, while a war room has been established to coordinate between railway stations, the control room and different railway departments.
The arrangements are intended to help railway officials respond to passenger queries and operational requirements as services are monitored through the day. The rail network is a major link between Chandigarh and Delhi, as well as between the national capital and cities in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, making cancellations relevant to both daily travellers and longer-distance passengers.
Passengers have been advised to check their train status through the National Train Enquiry System, or NTES, and official railway channels before travelling. The advisory is particularly relevant because service information can change during periods of protest-related security restrictions and operational adjustments.
According to the report, no cancellations or fare increases had been announced for air and road transport between Chandigarh and Delhi on October 10. Flight booking websites and travel agents showed fares of about Rs 5,200 to Rs 5,500 for Chandigarh-Delhi flights, with no cancellations reported. State road transport authorities also said buses were scheduled to operate on time.
However, the report mentioned unconfirmed information about possible restrictions at Delhi’s borders. It also noted that the Delhi Metro had already announced the closure of several stations and cancellation of metro services, adding to the disruption across the city’s transport system.
Railway officials’ next steps are to continue monitoring operations through the divisional control room and war room while providing passenger assistance at major stations. Travellers are expected to rely on NTES and official railway updates for the latest status of individual services.
