Indian Railways has announced a series of operational adjustments affecting train services in the Varanasi division to facilitate critical infrastructure upgrades. The North Eastern Railway is conducting pre-non-interlock and non-interlock technical work for the patch doubling of the rail line between Gorakhpur Cantt and Unaula stations. These essential engineering works are scheduled to take place from July 16 to July 24, 2026, and will be followed by a mandatory safety inspection by the Railway Safety Commissioner (CRS) on July 21, 2026.
Key operational impacts for passengers include:
- 10 to 11 trains are slated for full cancellation.
- 16 trains will be diverted to alternative routes.
- 17 trains will experience short-termination or short-origination.
- 15 trains are expected to face delays, with 6 trains operating at controlled speeds.
Significant Train Disruptions
Among the notable service disruptions, the 15105/15106 Chhapra-Nautanwa-Chhapra Express will remain cancelled on July 21. The 14111/14112 Prayagraj Jn.-Muzaffarpur-Prayagraj Jn. Express is cancelled for July 20. Furthermore, the 15567/15568 Bapudham Motihari-Anand Vihar Terminus-Bapudham Motihari Express will not run from Bapudham Motihari on July 21 and from Anand Vihar Terminus on July 22. Passengers travelling on the 15212 Amritsar-Darbhanga Express should note that their train will be diverted on July 19 and 20.
Passenger Advisory and Infrastructure Benefits
North Eastern Railway CPRO Sumit Kumar confirmed that these measures are necessary to complete the doubling project, which aims to increase track capacity and improve long-term punctuality for trains passing through the Varanasi division. While these changes may cause temporary inconvenience, the completion of this infrastructure project is expected to lead to smoother train operations and reduced congestion in the region.
Indian Railways strongly advises all passengers to verify the current status of their trains before heading to the station. Travellers can check updates through the official NTES app, station inquiry counters, or by calling the railway helpline. Normal train services are expected to resume progressively once the safety inspection is successfully completed.