Eastern Railway has cancelled two Rajdhani Express services scheduled to depart from Kolkata for New Delhi on 9 October 2026, citing the risk of severe traffic congestion around New Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station the following day.
The cancelled services are train number 12313, the Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express, and train number 12301, the Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express, according to information posted by the Sealdah Divisional Railway Manager’s office on Facebook. Eastern Railway announced the decision in a notice issued on Friday.
The railway said the cancellations were made after assessing the possibility of extensive traffic disruption in the areas surrounding the two Delhi stations on 10 October. The stated reason for the decision was passenger safety and convenience. The source report also said that several other trains bound for Delhi had been cancelled, but it did not provide their train numbers or departure details.
The disruption affects passengers who had planned overnight journeys from Kolkata to the national capital. Rajdhani Express services are among the principal long-distance rail connections between eastern India and Delhi, and their cancellation can require passengers to alter travel plans at short notice. The supplied railway communication did not specify alternative services, rescheduling arrangements or the refund process for affected bookings.
The decision comes ahead of a proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 10 October. The report linked the expected gathering to the anticipated congestion, but the railway’s stated operational basis was the likely traffic impact around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations rather than the protest itself.
The cancellation also highlights how access conditions beyond railway premises can influence the operation of major intercity services. Both New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin are critical rail gateways for passengers arriving from different parts of the country, and congestion around their approaches can affect passenger movement, station access and local traffic management.
Eastern Railway’s notice identified 9 October 2026 as the date on which the two services were cancelled and 10 October 2026 as the date for which congestion was anticipated. Passengers holding tickets on the affected trains should check the latest information through railway channels before travelling. The supplied notice did not announce a revised departure schedule for either service.
