Delhi Train Services Back to Normal After Protest Disruption

After a brief but hectic two‑day chaos, the Northern Railway announced on Monday that every train heading to or from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin will run on its regular timetable from October 11.

The disruption started on Saturday when the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) called for a sit‑in near the capital’s main stations to demand the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Intelligence reports warned of massive road snarls, so Indian Railways scrapped all Mail and Express services slated to arrive between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Trains departing after 2 p.m. on Saturday were also pulled from the schedule.

It wasn’t just the capital that felt the ripple effect. In the Ratlam division, three Indore‑originating trains – the Dr Ambedkar Nagar–Indore local (20155), the Indore–New Delhi Special (09309) and the Indore–New Delhi Express (12415) – were cancelled outright. The Yuva Express to Delhi met the same fate. Meanwhile, the Rajdhani Express (12951) and the August Kranti Express (12953) that were due to leave Mumbai Central were delayed by about five hours, with refunds promised to ticket‑ed passengers.

West Central Railway’s Bhopal wing also pulled the Mumbai‑Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani (train 22221) on Saturday, citing “operational reasons.” Railway officials expressed regret for the inconvenience and assured travellers that normal service would resume on Monday.

By the time the sun rose on October 11, platforms were bustling again, and commuters could finally count on the familiar schedule that Delhi’s daily rush depends on. The episode serves as a reminder of how quickly political protests can cascade into transport headaches, but also of the railways’ ability to bounce back.