Northern Railway implements 36-day traffic block at Chandigarh station affecting Himachal routes
Railway operations connecting Himachal Pradesh to the regional network face significant disruptions as the Ambala Division of Northern Railway implements a 36-day power and traffic block at Chandigarh Railway Station. The suspension, which began on September 10, is scheduled to continue through October 15, 2026, to facilitate critical infrastructure upgrades overseen by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). This maintenance project involves the erection and launching of a through-roof structure and the dismantling of existing foot-over-bridge girders to modernize facilities for passengers.
To manage the scale of these operations, officials have divided the 36-day project into three distinct 12-day phases. Phase one, running from September 10 to September 21, impacts Line 6 (Platform 5), Line 7 (non-platform), and Line 8 (Platform 6). Phase two, from September 22 to October 3, affects Line 4 (Platform 3) and Line 5 (Platform 4). The final phase, scheduled from October 4 to October 15, involves work on Line 1 (Platform 2), Line 2 (non-platform), and Line 3 (Platform 2).
Impact on Passengers and Train Services
Passengers traveling between Una, Daulatpur Chowk, and the Chandigarh-Ambala corridor are among the most significantly affected by these infrastructure works. Specifically, the Daulatpur Chowk-Ambala Cantt Passenger train (74991/74992 DEMU), which has remained out of service since May, will see its cancellation extended through the duration of the block. In total, approximately 442 train trips are expected to be disrupted, including the full cancellation of 12 trains and the partial cancellation or short-termination of numerous others at Ambala or Mohali stations. Routes connecting Chandigarh with Delhi, Kalka, and Ambala will also experience significant operational changes and platform adjustments.
Travel Advisory and Alternatives
Railway authorities advise all passengers to verify current train statuses before travel using the NTES app, the RailMadad service by dialing 139, or by visiting local station enquiry counters. Travelers may need to consider alternative road transport options for journeys between Chandigarh and Ambala until the infrastructure work is successfully completed on October 15, 2026.