Key Points
- 24 pairs (48 individual services) cancelled across East Central Railway zone
- Cancellation period: December 1, 2025, to March 3, 2026
- Affects routes through Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, and Northeast
- Safety measure due to poor visibility, unclear signals, and track hazards
- Passengers advised to check alternative trains and plan travel in advance
- Annual precautionary measure implemented every winter
New Delhi: The East Central Railway’s decision impacts major express trains operating on some of India’s busiest corridors, with cancellations spanning nearly 100 days. The suspension affects trains running between Delhi and Malda Town, Amritsar and Purnia Court, Kamakhya and Anand Vihar, and Prayagraj to Muzaffarpur. Railway officials confirmed that this preventive measure aims to reduce network congestion and allow controlled operations for remaining services during the hazardous fog season.
Complete Safety Protocol for Foggy Conditions
Dense fog during North Indian winters creates near-zero visibility conditions from night until late morning, forcing trains to crawl at restricted speeds for hours. Signals become invisible, tracks are obscured, and accident risks increase dramatically. The Railway Board’s fog safety protocol mandates speed restrictions below 60 kmph when visibility drops below 200 meters, causing cascading delays across the network. By cancelling selected services, railways can better manage on-ground staff, reduce signal congestion, and maintain timetable reliability for premium trains such as the Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express.
Comprehensive List of Cancelled Trains
Fully Cancelled Services (December 2025 – March 2026)
Train No. 14617/14618, Purnia Court Amritsar Janseva Express, cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
Train No. 15619, Gaya Kamakhya Express, is cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 24, 2026.
Train No. 15620, Kamakhya Gaya Express, is cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 23, 2026.
Train No. 15621, Kamakhya Anand Vihar Express, is cancelled from December 4, 2025, to February 26, 2026.
Train No. 15622, Anand Vihar Kamakhya Express, is cancelled from December 5, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 22198, Veerangna Laxmibai Jhansi Kolkata Express, cancelled from December 5, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 22197, Kolkata Veerangna Laxmibai Jhansi Express, cancelled from December 7, 2025, to March 1, 2026.
Train No. 12327, Howrah Dehradun Upasana Express, cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 12328, Dehradun Howrah Upasana Express, cancelled from December 3, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
Train No. 14004, New Delhi Malda Town Express, is cancelled from December 4, 2025, to February 26, 2026.
Train No. 14003, Malda Town New Delhi Express, cancelled from December 6, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
Train No. 14523, Barauni Ambala Harihar Express, cancelled from December 4, 2025, to February 26, 2026.
Train No. 14524, Ambala Barauni Harihar Express, cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 24, 2026.
Train No. 14111, Muzaffarpur Prayagraj Junction Express, cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 25, 2026.
Train No. 14112, Prayagraj Junction Muzaffarpur Express, cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 25, 2026.
Train No. 18103, Tatanagar Amritsar Express, cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 25, 2026.
Train No. 18104, Amritsar Tatanagar Express, cancelled from December 3, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 15903, Dibrugarh Chandigarh Express, cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 15904, Chandigarh Dibrugarh Express, is cancelled from December 3, 2025, to March 1, 2026.
Train No. 22857, Santragachi Anand Vihar Express, cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 26, 2026.
Train No. 22858, Anand Vihar Santragachi Express, is cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Train No. 12873, Hatia Anand Vihar Express, is cancelled from December 1, 2025, to February 26, 2026.
Train No. 12874, Anand Vihar Hatia Express, cancelled from December 2, 2025, to February 27, 2026.
Reduced Frequency Services Also Affected
Several additional trains will operate on reduced schedules, including the Gwalior Barauni Express, Ajmer Sealdah Express, Howrah Kathgodam Bagh Express, and Kolkata Amritsar Express, with specific weekday cancellations throughout the winter window. The Howrah Mathura Chambal Express will be partially cancelled between Agra Cantt and Mathura Junction from early December to late February.
Passenger Advisory and Refund Process
The East Central Railway has advised all passengers to check train status on the NTES app or irctc.co.in before travelling. Full refunds will be processed automatically for tickets booked on cancelled trains, with passengers receiving SMS notifications. Those with connecting journey tickets can claim refunds at reservation counters or through the IRCTC website. The railway has also increased bus connectivity from major stations to help stranded passengers reach alternative train routes.
