Rail services across the Delhi division ground to a near halt on Wednesday as a thick blanket of fog combined with operational issues created massive disruptions. The severe weather conditions led to significant delays for numerous long-distance trains, causing considerable inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
Widespread Delays and Stranded Passengers
The impact was severe, with over 40 mail and express trains running behind schedule. The delays were not minor; many services were reported to be late by 3 to 6 hours. This cascading effect of delays left a large number of commuters stranded at various stations, unsure of their travel timelines. Both premium services and regular long-distance trains were caught in the gridlock, highlighting the widespread nature of the disruption.
Major Routes and Trains Affected
Some of the most prominent trains and corridors suffered the worst of the delays. Key services arriving in the national capital from the eastern and northern regions were heavily impacted. The Rajdhani Express coming from the eastern region and the Tejas Express operating on the Lucknow-New Delhi route were among the notable trains that reached their destination well behind schedule.
Furthermore, several superfast trains originating from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand were delayed. The most affected routes included:
- Patna–New Delhi
- Howrah–New Delhi
- Puri–New Delhi
- Varanasi–New Delhi
Official Explanation and Network Impact
Railway officials cited extremely poor visibility due to the dense fog as the primary cause. The low visibility forced trains to slow down considerably for safety reasons. This slowdown had a ripple effect on the entire network's schedule. Additionally, the turnaround time of rakes was affected, meaning trains could not be prepared for their return journeys on time. This operational constraint compounded the initial delays, creating a domino effect that disrupted the schedule of subsequent services across the Northern Railway network.
