Passengers travelling from the capital of Jharkhand are facing significant disruptions as the Ranchi railway division has announced the cancellation of seventeen train services until early next year. This major step is a direct result of extensive yard re-modelling work underway at the Ranchi railway station, aimed at overhauling its infrastructure for the future.
Reason Behind the Massive Cancellations
Railway authorities have clarified that the ongoing project is essential for enhancing the station's core operations. The primary goals are to boost operational efficiency, elevate safety standards, and ensure smoother train movement in the long term. While these upgrades promise future benefits, they necessitate a temporary partial shutdown of operations, impacting several passenger services during the execution phase.
The remodelling work involves restructuring the station's yard layout—the network of tracks where trains are assembled, parked, and directed. This critical work makes it impossible to operate the usual number of trains safely during the construction window.
Complete List of Affected Train Services
The cancellations have been implemented in phases. The first batch of services was halted starting December 10 and will remain cancelled until January 7 of the coming year. This initial list includes several key passenger trains:
- 18602/18601 Hatia-Tatanagar-Hatia Express
- 58663/58664 Hatia-Sanki-Hatia Passenger
- 58034/58033 Ranchi-Bokaro Steel City-Ranchi Passenger
- 58665/58666 Hatia-Sanki-Hatia Passenger
In a recent update, Shuchi Singh, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Ranchi railway division, provided details on further cancellations. She stated that four more express trains will be out of service from December 23 to January 7.
- 18085/18086 Kharagpur-Ranchi-Kharagpur Express
- 13303/13304 Dhanbad-Ranchi-Dhanbad Express
- 68035/68036 Tatanagar-Hatia-Tatanagar
- 13319/13320 Dumka-Ranchi-Dumka Express
Partial Cancellations on Specific Routes
Adding another layer to the travel advisory, Singh also highlighted that operations for six trains have been curtailed on select routes only. This means the trains will run, but not on their full scheduled path.
For instance, the 63598/63597 Asansol-Ranchi-Asansol Passenger will not operate between the Muri and Ranchi sections from December 23 to January 7. Similarly, the 18035/18036 Kharagpur-Hatia-Kharagpur Express will be cancelled specifically between Muri and Hatia during the same period.
Passenger Advisory and Looking Ahead
The railway division urges all passengers to check their travel plans carefully and confirm the status of their trains before heading to the station. While the cancellations are unavoidable and cause immediate inconvenience, the authorities emphasize that the long-term gains in safety and efficiency will justify the temporary disruption.
Commuters are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements or reschedule their journeys if possible. The Ranchi division expects normal operations to resume progressively after the completion of the re-modelling work on January 7, marking the beginning of a more robust and reliable railway service from the station.
