Rail Network in Punjab Paralyzed by Delays and Cancellations
Thousands of railway passengers across Punjab are enduring a severe test of patience. The region's rail network remains paralyzed by a relentless wave of cancellations and massive delays. This situation persists despite brief periods of sunshine and improving visibility in recent days.
Premier Services Running Hours Behind Schedule
The Northern Railway schedule lies in complete disarray. Some of their most important services are running nearly half a day late. On Sunday, the Amritsar Garib Rath Express topped the list of disruptions. It arrived a staggering 11 hours behind its scheduled time.
The Amritsar Clone Special left passengers stranded for over nine hours. High-priority trains were not spared from the chaos either.
Key Regional Links Completely Suspended
In addition to the creeping delays, a total suspension of key regional links has left daily commuters without options. For several consecutive days, services including the Sirsa Ludhiana Passenger, Delhi Sarai Rohilla Duronto Express, and the Jalandhar City Intercity Express have remained cancelled.
The persistent lack of service on these routes is causing mounting frustration. Many people depend on these trains for their daily livelihoods.
Commuters Question Continued Cancellations
Regular travelers are now questioning the necessity of the ongoing cancellations. They note that atmospheric conditions have started to stabilize. While heavy fog was a valid concern earlier in the month, the recent appearance of sunlight and clearer skies should have prompted a partial restoration of the local timetable.
"I regularly depend on the Jalandhar City Intercity Express, but it has not been running for days now," said Pritpal, a local resident. "The weather has already improved at intervals and is expected to get better. Still, many trains remain cancelled altogether, which is not justified. I request the railway authorities to resume these services immediately."
No Clear Timeline for Resumption
Railway authorities have yet to provide a definitive timeline for the resumption of the suspended routes. The currently affected services include the Amritsar Hisar Express, Jammu Mail, and the MCTM Udhampur Superfast Express.
Passengers continue to wait for hours on freezing platforms. Their hope remains that the easing winter conditions will finally bring a return to a reliable and predictable schedule.
