Patna: Thick fog across Bihar and much of North India has severely disrupted railway services, with East Central Railway (ECR) cancelling 52 trains between December 2025 and February 2026. The decision is expected to affect the travel plans of an estimated 4.5 million passengers over the three-month period.
Rail officials said the cancellations, which include 20 trains originating or passing through Patna, were unavoidable as dense fog continues to reduce visibility and force trains to run at significantly lower speeds. Last winter, 48 trains were cancelled during the December–February period; this year the number has risen further.
Despite the installation of fog-safety devices on locomotives, the Railways said that extremely low visibility makes safe movement difficult. “Fog safety devices are installed on all engines, but dense fog reduces speed. Passing becomes difficult, resulting in the cancellation of many trains,” said ECR CPRO Saraswati Chandra.
Major Trains Affected by Fog-Related Cancellations and Delays
| Train Name / Route | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Howrah–Dehradun Upasana Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled for the fog period |
| Malda Town–New Delhi Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled |
| Purnia Court–Amritsar Janseva Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled |
| Kamakhya–Gaya Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled |
| Kamakhya–Anand Vihar Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled |
| Hatia–Anand Vihar Express | Cancelled | Fully cancelled |
| Garib Rath Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on specific days of the week |
| North East Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on certain days |
| Mahananda Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on select days |
| New Jalpaiguri–New Delhi Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on certain days |
| Patliputra–Lucknow Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on specific days |
| Patliputra–Gorakhpur Express | Partially Cancelled | Cancelled on select days |
| 12370 Kumbh Express | Delayed | Arrived 6 hours 51 minutes late |
| Vibhuti Express | Delayed | Nearly 3 hours late |
| Anand Vihar–Rajgir Festival Special | Delayed | About 6 hours late |
| Rajgir MEMU | Delayed | Over 2 hours late |
| Howrah Punjab Mail | Delayed | 30–90 minutes late |
| Farakka Express | Delayed | 30–90 minutes late |
| Islampur–Hatia Express | Delayed | 30–90 minutes late |
| Himgiri Express | Delayed | 30–90 minutes late |
Passenger rush intensifies
With fog conditions worsening, heavy congestion has been reported on major routes, particularly those heading towards Delhi and Kolkata. Seats in AC First Class coaches of Tejas Rajdhani, Sampoorna Kranti, Rajdhani Express, Vikramshila and Purvi Express are sold out until 6 January, forcing many passengers to rely on long waiting lists.
Passenger footfall has risen by nearly 30 percent on long-distance routes, railway officials said.
Punctuality drops across North India
The Danapur division’s punctuality has fallen from over 85 percent to around 80 percent. Officials noted that the situation remains comparatively better than in other northern divisions, including Banaras, where punctuality has dropped to 65 percent.
With winter conditions expected to persist, passengers are advised to check train schedules regularly and prepare for potential delays.
