Gorakhpur-Gonda Rail Alert: 12 Trains Cancelled, 26 Diverted
Passengers traveling through the Gorakhpur-Gonda rail section are facing major disruptions due to upcoming infrastructure upgrades. Indian Railways has announced the cancellation of 12 trains and the diversion of 26 services to facilitate the installation of a new automatic block signaling system.
Signaling Upgrades and Work Schedule
The technical work involves commissioning and non-interlocking procedures between Swami Narayan Chhapia, Maskanwa, Lakhpatnagar, and Mankapur stations. This critical project, managed by the North Eastern Railway and North Central Railway, is scheduled to take place from October 10 to October 12, 2026.
List of Cancelled Trains
To ensure safety during the signaling installation, several passenger and MEMU services will not operate during the specified period:
- Ayodhya Cantt-Mankapur and Mankapur-Ayodhya Dham MEMU: Suspended on October 10 and 11.
- Gorakhpur-Gonda Passenger: Cancelled on October 10 and 11.
- Gonda-Gorakhpur and Gonda-Sitapur City Passenger: Cancelled on October 11 and 12.
- Other MEMU Services: Gorakhpur-Barhni, Nakaha Jungle-Nautanwa, and Bhatni-Ayodhya Dham MEMU services are also suspended.
Major Route Diversions
In addition to cancellations, 26 express trains will follow alternative routes to maintain connectivity:
- Gonda-Barhni Corridor: Between October 9 and 11, 2026, 17 trains will be rerouted via the Gonda-Barhni-Gorakhpur route instead of the standard Gonda-Basti-Gorakhpur line.
- Delhi and Bihar Connections: Certain trains connecting Delhi and Bihar will be redirected via Aunrihar, Varanasi, Banaras, and Prayagraj, which may result in bypassing several regularly scheduled stops.
Short-Terminations and Significant Delays
Travelers should also be aware of specific changes to train destinations and arrival times:
- Varanasi-Nepalganj Road Express: On October 10, this train will terminate at Ayodhya Dham instead of reaching Nepalganj.
- Prayagraj Sangam Expresses: Both the Prayagraj Sang