Passengers planning rail journeys in late February and early March should stay alert. Dense winter fog across North and East India has prompted the Indian Railways to make significant changes to train operations on several busy routes.

For safety and smooth traffic management, the railways have cancelled more than two dozen key trains and diverted several others. Travelers are strongly advised to verify their train status before leaving home to avoid last-minute inconvenience.

Why Trains Have Been Cancelled

Every winter, thick fog blankets large parts of northern India, sharply reducing visibility on railway tracks. In February, visibility levels in many regions often drop close to zero, making train operations risky.

Low visibility forces trains to run at reduced speeds and increases the risk of operational hazards. Keeping passenger safety as the top priority, Indian Railways has temporarily suspended services on multiple high-density routes connecting cities such as Tata, Amritsar, Delhi, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Most cancellations are currently effective until the end of February or the first week of March 2026.

List of Major Cancelled Trains (Effective February 2026)

According to the latest railway notification, the following prominent trains will remain cancelled for specified dates:

• Tata–Amritsar Express (18103/18104): Cancelled from February 25 to February 27
• Hatia–Anand Vihar Express (12873/12874): Suspended on February 26 and 27
• Howrah–Dehradun Upasana Express (12327/12328): Cancelled until the end of February
• Dibrugarh–Chandigarh Express (15903/15904): Affected until March 1
• Malda Town–New Delhi Express (14003/14004): Cancelled until February 28
• Amritsar–Purnia Court Janseva Express (14617/14618): Suspended until early March

Passengers booked on these services should immediately check refund and rebooking options.

Route Diversions and Expected Delays

Apart from cancellations, several trains are running on diverted routes due to ongoing track doubling and maintenance work on key sections such as Gonda, Budhwal, and Saharanpur.

Even trains that are operating normally are experiencing significant delays because of fog conditions. In many cases, arrivals are running 5 to 10 hours behind schedule, especially on northern corridors.

Travelers with connecting journeys should plan extra buffer time to avoid missing subsequent trains.

Important Advice for Passengers

Railway authorities have issued the following recommendations for travelers:

Full Refund Available
If a train is cancelled by Indian Railways, passengers are entitled to a full refund. For e-tickets, the refund is usually processed automatically back to the original payment account.

Check Live Status on NTES
Before starting your journey, verify real-time train updates using the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) website or mobile app.

Use Railway Helpline 139
For queries related to cancellations, delays, or diversions, passengers can call the official railway helpline number 139.

Keep Buffer Time for Connecting Trips
If your journey involves changing trains, allow sufficient time between connections, as fog-related delays remain unpredictable.

Safety First, Though Inconvenient

While the cancellations and delays may disrupt travel plans, railway officials emphasize that the measures are purely precautionary. Running trains in extremely low visibility conditions can pose serious safety risks.

Passengers are advised to stay updated through official channels and plan their journeys accordingly.

Bottom line: If you are traveling by train in the coming weeks, double-check your train status — it could save you from major last-minute trouble.