Officials said the upgrade was deliberately scheduled during non-peak hours to reduce inconvenience for travellers, though services such as current reservation, chart preparation, internet ticketing, PRS status enquiry, e-DR and PRIMES remained inaccessible during the transition. The Railways stated that the shift was essential to modernise backend systems that handle millions of daily transactions.
The technical overhaul coincided with severe fog conditions across North India, which threw train operations off track. Thick fog blankets in Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighbouring states led to widespread delays and cancellations through the week. Several long-distance trains ran significantly behind schedule, forcing the Railways to issue an advisory urging passengers to check real-time updates before travelling.
Citing operational challenges posed by winter conditions, the Railways announced the cancellation of 24 long-route trains for a three-month period from December 1 to February 28. The move affects services to Patna, Ambala, Prayagraj, Amritsar, Kamakhya, Kolkata, Ajmer and Howrah, among other destinations. Another 28 trains had their routes curtailed, while some daily trains were temporarily shifted to a two-to-four-day schedule.
Passengers have been advised to verify train status through official portals to avoid last-minute queues for refunds or cancellations at stations. The updated list of cancelled and diverted trains has been published online and circulated to major junctions. Authorities said normal operations would resume once visibility improves and winter schedules stabilise.
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