Indian Railways cancels all trains arriving at New Delhi and Nizamuddin on October 10
All Mail and Express trains scheduled to reach the capital's main stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday are cancelled at source.
What has happened?
Indian Railways has cancelled all Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday, 10 October, citing concerns over severe road traffic congestion around the two hubs.
The order, issued on Friday, 9 October, by the railway department’s coaching directorate, means that any of these services departing their originating stations after 2 pm on Friday will be cancelled at source. Rather than being diverted or allowed to run part of the way, these trains will not make their journeys at all.
Why are the trains cancelled?
The official directive attributes the sweep of cancellations to anticipated "severe traffic congestion" on the roads surrounding the two major stations.
However, the sudden move comes against the backdrop of planned protests in the capital against the Chief Election Commissioner. While the demonstrations are widely understood to be the trigger for the precautions, railway officials have not officially confirmed a link between the protests and the decision to halt services, choosing instead to focus on the threat of road traffic gridlock.
Who is affected?
The decision is set to disrupt travel plans for thousands of passengers heading to the capital on Saturday morning. By cancelling the trains at source, the railways aim to prevent large crowds of passengers from landing at the stations with no easy way to leave, which would further clog the surrounding road networks.
New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin are among the busiest railway hubs in the country, and the areas surrounding them—such as Paharganj, Ajmeri Gate, and Sarai Kale Khan—frequently suffer from heavy traffic even on normal days. Authorities have not yet said whether any alternative transport arrangements will be made, or if refunds will be processed automatically for the cancelled trips.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cancellation window on October 10 | 4 am to 2 pm | Railway coaching directorate order |
| Cut-off departure time for affected trains on October 9 | After 2 pm | Railway coaching directorate order |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station | The second major Delhi station affected by the cancellation order. |
| Indian Railways | Issued the cancellation order for Mail and Express trains. |
| New Delhi Railway Station | One of the key stations where arriving trains have been cancelled. |
