Winter Fog Alert: Major Train Cancellations & Reductions
Indian Railways has announced a significant series of service cancellations and frequency reductions to mitigate the operational impact of dense winter fog. Scheduled to take place from December 2026 through March 2027, these measures are being implemented to ensure passenger safety and maintain the punctuality of rail operations during periods of severely reduced visibility across North India.
Major Train Cancellations to Note
Following an extensive operational feasibility assessment, the North Central Railway and the Moradabad Division of the Northern Railway are implementing several major service suspensions. Key cancellations include:
- New Farakka Express (14003/14004): Train 14003 from Malda Town to New Delhi will be suspended from December 5, 2026, to March 2, 2027. The return service, 14004 from New Delhi to Malda Town, is cancelled from December 3, 2026, to March 2, 2027.
- Pryagraj-Muzaffarpur (14112/14111): Both the 14112 and 14111 services are fully cancelled from December 2, 2026, to February 24, 2027.
- Veerangana Lakshmibai Jhansi-Kolkata (22198/22197): Service 22198 is cancelled from December 4, 2026, to February 26, 2027, while the return service 22197 is suspended from December 6, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Frequency Reductions and Route Changes
In addition to full cancellations, several popular services will see changes to their operating schedules or routes to manage the fog season effectively:
- Agra Fort-Lucknow Intercity: This service will not operate on Saturdays and Sundays from December 1, 2026, through February 2027.
- Agra Cantt-Hoshiarpur Express: This train will face cancellations on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Howrah-Mathura Chambal Express: This service will undergo a partial route cancellation between Mathura and Agra Cantt from December 4, 2026, to February 22, 2027.
- Garib Rath Express: Both the Bhagalpur and Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express services will operate with a reduced frequency.
Impact on Moradabad Division and Safety Measures
The Moradabad Division has confirmed that 16 trains are affected by these adjustments. Impacted services include the Kathgodam-Jammu Tawi, Kanpur Central-Kathgodam, and Barauni-Ambala Cantt. Other notable routes facing disruptions include the Purnea Court Express, Amritsar-Purnea Court, Malda Town Express, New Delhi-Malda Town, Tatanagar Express, and Amritsar-Tatanagar.
To enhance safety during the foggy months, Indian Railways has begun the installation of GPS-based Fog Safe Devices (FSDs) on locomotives. These devices are designed to assist loco pilots in maintaining accurate navigation and speed even when visibility is extremely poor.
Railway officials strongly advise all passengers to verify the current status and specific operating dates of their trains before beginning their journey.