Mumbai-Delhi train cancellations and schedule changes have affected several long-distance services after railway authorities issued an advisory ahead of a planned protest in New Delhi on October 10. Trains scheduled to reach New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm were cancelled or rescheduled because of the possibility of severe road traffic congestion around the stations, according to the railway information cited by Navbharat Times – Mumbai.
The disruption affects services originating in or passing through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Western Railway network, headquartered in Mumbai, covers Gujarat and Maharashtra as well as parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Central Railway has also cancelled a major service from Mumbai.
Western Railway said the Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (12951) and the Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express (12953) would run five hours late. The Bandra Terminus-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (12247) and the Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express were cancelled.
Other services listed as cancelled include the Dr Ambedkar Nagar-New Delhi Express (20155), Indore-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (09309), Indore-New Delhi Express (12415) and Sabarmati-New Delhi Express (12957). Central Railway cancelled the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express (22221).
The railway advisory followed a message from the Railway Board. It cited the possibility of serious road traffic jams around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations during the period of the planned demonstration. The operational decision means that passengers travelling to the national capital must check the latest running status before leaving for their boarding station, rather than relying only on the original timetable.
Railway authorities said that several other services on the Central Railway and Western Railway networks continued to reach their destinations despite the anticipated disruption. The advisory was therefore not a blanket suspension of services across Delhi or the wider railway network. Services at other railway stations in the national capital were reported to be operating normally.
The cancellations have also raised questions for passengers who had already booked tickets. A Western Railway spokesperson said fares for cancelled trains would be refunded. The source report did not specify the refund process or the time required for credits to reach passengers, so travellers will need to follow the applicable railway ticketing instructions.
The disruption highlights the operational dependence of long-distance rail travel on conditions outside railway tracks and platforms. Access roads, station approaches and traffic management around major terminals can affect whether trains are brought into the capital even when the railway network itself remains operational. For passengers from Mumbai and other western and central Indian cities, the immediate concern remains the status of individual services and the availability of refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
Passengers have been advised to verify updated train timings before starting their journey. The cancellations, delays and refund arrangements remain subject to the latest notifications from Central Railway and Western Railway.
