Kanpur Central Railway Station will remain completely closed for 24 hours on June 21, 2026. No trains will enter or leave the station from 6 AM or 8 AM for a full day. This is the first time in six years that the station will see such a complete halt in operations since the 2020 lockdown.
Why is Kanpur Central closing for 24 hours?
The shutdown is for a major interlocking and signal upgrade project. The current electric interlocking system will be replaced with a fully computer-based network. According to Deputy CTM Akanshu Govil, this change will reduce human errors and signal failures, making train operations safer and more punctual. Preliminary work will start from June 11 and continue until June 20, with the main work happening on June 21.
How will train services be affected?
Around 300 trains will be affected by this closure. Major trains including Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, Sampoorna Kranti, and Duronto will be diverted. North Central Railway (NCR) General Manager Naresh Pal Singh will review the diversion plans. To help passengers, additional water and food arrangements have been made at Govindpuri station, and RPF and GRP personnel will be deployed to manage crowds.
| Route/Train Type | Diversion Route |
|---|---|
| Delhi-Kanpur-Howrah | Via Govindpuri and Chandari |
| Howrah-Kanpur-Delhi | Via Chandari and Govindpuri |
| Delhi-Lucknow (Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, etc.) | Via Lucknow-Moradabad-Ghaziabad |
| MEMU (Banda, Jhansi, Tundla, etc.) | Operated from Govindpuri |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What will happen to trains on June 21, 2026?
Kanpur Central will be closed for 24 hours starting 6 AM or 8 AM. About 300 trains will be diverted to Govindpuri and Chandari stations.
Why is this shutdown necessary?
The railway is upgrading the signal system to a computer-based network to stop frequent signal failures and improve safety.