In a major travel update for pilgrims and visitors, the Northern Railway has announced significant operational changes at the Prayagraj Sangam railway station during the ongoing Magh Mela. The authorities have decided to suspend all train arrivals and departures at this key station on the main holy bathing days, known as 'snan' days, to manage the massive influx of devotees.
Key Dates and Operational Closure
The travel advisory is effective for a considerable period, from January 2 to February 16, 2026. The primary snan days when the station will be completely closed for operations are January 3, 14, 18, 23, and February 1 and 15. Crucially, the halt in services is not limited to just these days. Train operations will be suspended a day before and will resume a day after each of these major bathing dates.
Senior Divisional Railway Manager of the Northern Railway's Lucknow Division, Kuldeep Tiwari, explained the rationale behind this decision. He highlighted that the Sangam railway station's proximity—barely one-and-a-half kilometres—to the actual Sangam bathing area makes it susceptible to extreme crowding, with lakhs of devotees converging there. He cited the precedent set during the Maha Kumbh in 2024, when the station remained closed entirely.
Alternative Stations and Affected Trains
To ensure seamless travel, the railways have designated alternative stations for affected services. All trains originally destined for Sangam station will now be diverted to arrive at Phaphamau Junction and Prayag Junction. Departures of these trains will be handled from Prayag Junction on the days when Sangam station is closed.
The diversion impacts a mix of passenger and express services. Eight passenger and four MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains connecting to Ayodhya, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Kanpur Anwarganj will skip their stop at Sangam station. Furthermore, nine Express trains will terminate at Phaphamau or Prayag junctions instead. The list of affected express trains includes:
- LKO-PYGS Intercity Express (14210)
- Ganga Gomti Express (14216)
- CNB-PYGS Express (14102) from Kanpur Central
- Saryu Express (14234)
- Manwar Sangam Express (14232)
- Unchahar Express (14218)
- Nauchandi Express (14242)
- BE-PYGS Express (14308) from Bareilly
- HW-PYGS Express (14230) from Haridwar
Authorities have assured passengers with pre-booked tickets that they need not worry. They can alight at Phaphamau or Prayag junctions, both within Prayagraj, and for departures, board from Prayag junction. Information about these changes will be communicated at the origin stations.
Additional Stops and Pilgrim-Focused Measures
In a parallel move to accommodate the surge in travel, the Northern Central Railway's Prayagraj division has planned extra halts for several trains at Prayag station. These special arrangements will be in force from January 1 to February 20, 2026.
Under this plan, 22 long-distance trains will make an additional two-minute stop at Prayag Station. This list encompasses major services from across the country, including the Indore-Varanasi Superfast Express, Purva Express, trains from Mumbai like the Lokmanya Tilak-Gorakhpur Express, and services from Southern India such as the Yesvantpur-Lucknow Express. Notably, the day-time Vande Bharat Express connecting Prayagraj and Gorakhpur will also have these scheduled additional halts.
NCR officials stated that all these temporary measures are designed to manage the increased passenger flow efficiently while upholding the punctuality of the rail network. Passengers are strongly advised to verify their train's status via the NTES app or by dialling 139 before commencing their journey.
