Five trains connecting Mumbai and other cities to Delhi have been cancelled, while two Mumbai Central services have been rescheduled by five hours because of anticipated severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station on October 10, according to a Railway notification issued on Friday.
The cancellations affect services originating from Indore, Dadar, Bandra Terminus and Sabarmati. The Railway Board communication cited in the notification warned of possible congestion in the areas surrounding the two major Delhi stations, where the affected trains were scheduled to arrive.
The cancelled services include Train 20155, the DADN-New Delhi service, scheduled to depart from DADN at 3.30 pm on October 9 and arrive at New Delhi at 4.25 am on October 10. Train 09309 from Indore to Hazrat Nizamuddin, scheduled to leave Indore at 5 pm and arrive at 5 am, has also been cancelled.
Train 12415 from Indore to New Delhi, which was scheduled to depart at 5.10 pm and arrive at 6.20 am, is among the cancelled services. Train 12247 from Bandra Terminus to Hazrat Nizamuddin, scheduled to leave at 5.30 pm and arrive at 10.15 am, has also been cancelled. The fifth service is Train 12957 from Sabarmati to New Delhi, scheduled to depart at 7.20 pm and arrive at 7.30 am.
Two trains from Mumbai Central to Delhi have not been cancelled but have been rescheduled. Train 12951, which was originally scheduled to depart Mumbai Central at 5 pm on October 9, has been delayed by five hours. Train 12953 from Mumbai Central to Hazrat Nizamuddin, originally scheduled to leave at 5.10 pm, has also been rescheduled by five hours.
The changes affect passengers travelling on some of the busiest long-distance rail routes linking Mumbai with the national capital. Travellers booked on the affected services will need to verify their revised departure information before going to the station, as the original timings will no longer apply to the two rescheduled trains.
The notification said the decision followed a Railway Board communication warning of anticipated severe road congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations. The Railways advised passengers to check the latest train status and departure timings before beginning their journey.
The cancellations are linked to a wider operational decision concerning trains reaching the two Delhi stations during the period of expected congestion. According to the report, Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10 will be cancelled at their source stations. This applies to trains departing their originating stations after 2 pm on October 9.
The report attributed the expected road congestion to a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party in Delhi. The Railway notification and the reported Railway Board communication did not indicate that the affected routes would be permanently changed. Passengers have been advised to rely on updated information from the Railways before travelling.
