Indian Railways Diverts 17 Trains Due to Non-Interlocking Work for Automatic Signalling in UP
The North Central Railway (NCR) has announced route diversions for 17 trains in connection with non-interlocking work being undertaken to commission an automatic signalling system on the Gorakhpur–Gonda section of the Indian Railways network in Uttar Pradesh.
According to a press release issued by the North Central Railway on October 7, the work is being carried out between Swaminarayan Chhapia, Maskanwa, Lakhpat Nagar and Mankapur stations. The operational changes will affect several long-distance trains connecting Gorakhpur, Delhi, Prayagraj, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and other destinations.
The route diversions will come into effect on different dates between October 9 and October 11, 2026. Most of the affected trains will operate via the Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur route instead of the existing Gonda–Basti–Gorakhpur corridor. Some services connecting Delhi and Bihar will be diverted via Aunrihar, Varanasi, Banaras and Prayagraj, bypassing several stations on their regular routes.
The railway administration has advised passengers to take note of the revised routes and the stations that will not be served by these trains during the diversion period.
Automatic Signalling Work on Gorakhpur–Gonda Section
Automatic signalling is an important railway safety and capacity-enhancement technology that enables trains to be operated at shorter intervals through designated track sections, subject to signalling, track and operating conditions. The commissioning process requires non-interlocking work, during which existing signalling arrangements are integrated with the new system.
The work between Swaminarayan Chhapia, Maskanwa, Lakhpat Nagar and Mankapur is expected to strengthen signalling infrastructure on the Gorakhpur–Gonda section. To facilitate the work and meet operational requirements, the Railways has revised the routes of 17 trains, each affected for one scheduled trip.
The diversions include passenger services connecting major cities such as Delhi, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram.
List of Trains Diverted via Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur Route
The following trains will be diverted through Barhni instead of their usual route via Basti. The changes will apply to the dates specified below.
| Train No. | Train route | Effective date | Revised route | Stations skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20103 | Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Gorakhpur | October 10 | Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | Maskanwa, Babhnan, Basti, Khalilabad |
| 15024 | Yesvantpur–Gorakhpur | October 8 | Barabanki–Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | Ayodhya Cantt, Ayodhya Dham, Mankapur, Basti |
| 12565 | Darbhanga–New Delhi | October 10 | Gorakhpur–Barhni–Gonda | None |
| 14048 | Delhi–Sitamarhi | October 10 | Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | Basti |
| 12558 | Anand Vihar Terminal–Muzaffarpur | October 10 | Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | None |
| 22075 | Charlapalli–Gorakhpur | October 9 | Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | None |
| 19726 | Darbhanga–Khatipura | October 10 | Gorakhpur–Barhni–Gonda | None |
| 15273 | Raxaul–Anand Vihar Terminal | October 10 | Gorakhpur–Barhni–Gonda | Khalilabad, Basti, Gaur, Babhnan, Maskanwa, Mankapur |
| 12556 | Bathinda–Gorakhpur | October 10 | Gonda–Barhni–Gorakhpur | Mankapur, Babhnan, Basti, Khalilabad |
| 12511 | Gorakhpur–Thiruvananthapuram North | October 11 | Gorakhpur–Barhni–Gonda | Khalilabad, Basti, Mankapur |
Major Diversions Affecting Delhi–Bihar Services
Four important trains connecting Delhi and Bihar will be diverted through an alternative route via Chhapra, Aunrihar, Varanasi, Banaras, Prayagraj and Kanpur Central. These diversions will bypass several stations on their existing routes, including Siwan, Deoria Sadar, Gorakhpur, Basti and Aishbagh.
The affected services are as follows:
| Train No. | Train route | Effective date | Revised route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02563 | Barauni–New Delhi | October 10 | Chhapra–Aunrihar–Varanasi–Banaras–Prayagraj–Kanpur Central |
| 02569 | Darbhanga–Delhi | October 10 | Chhapra–Aunrihar–Varanasi–Banaras–Prayagraj–Kanpur Central |
| 02570 | Delhi–Darbhanga | October 10 | Kanpur Central–Prayagraj–Banaras–Varanasi–Aunrihar–Chhapra |
| 02564 | Delhi–Barauni | October 10 | Kanpur Central–Prayagraj–Banaras–Varanasi–Aunrihar–Chhapra |
These diversions are particularly significant for passengers travelling between Delhi and Bihar, as the affected trains will not serve their usual intermediate stops in eastern Uttar Pradesh during the scheduled trips.
Additional Train Diversions via Gonda and Barabanki
Three other services will also operate on revised routes during the non-interlocking work. These changes will affect passengers travelling between Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Gomti Nagar and Amritsar.
| Train No. | Train route | Effective date | Revised route | Stations skipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22549 | Gorakhpur–Prayagraj | October 11 | Mankapur–Gonda–Barabanki | Ayodhya Dham |
| 15561 | Darbhanga–Gomti Nagar | October 10 | Mankapur–Gonda–Barabanki | Ayodhya Dham, Ayodhya Cantt |
| 15707 | Katihar–Amritsar | October 9 | Chhapra–Aunrihar–Varanasi–Ayodhya Cantt–Barabanki | Ekma, Siwan, Mairwa, Deoria Sadar, Gorakhpur, Khalilabad, Basti, Mankapur, Gonda, Colonelganj |
Train No. 15707, the Katihar–Amritsar service, will undergo a particularly extensive diversion. Instead of travelling via Gorakhpur, Basti, Gonda and Barabanki, it will run through Aunrihar, Varanasi and Ayodhya Cantt before joining the route towards Barabanki. Several intermediate stations on its normal route will not be served during the affected trip.
Similarly, Train No. 22549, operating from Gorakhpur to Prayagraj, will be diverted via Gonda and Barabanki on October 11, while Train No. 15561, running from Darbhanga to Gomti Nagar, will follow the revised route on October 10.
Passenger Advisory and Operational Impact
The route changes are temporary and are being implemented to facilitate the commissioning of the automatic signalling system on the Gorakhpur–Gonda section. The affected trains will operate on the revised routes for one scheduled trip each, according to the notification issued by the North Central Railway.
Passengers travelling to or from stations that will be bypassed during the diversions should verify their travel arrangements before departure. The changes may affect boarding and deboarding options, particularly for passengers travelling through Basti, Khalilabad, Mankapur, Ayodhya Cantt, Ayodhya Dham, Gorakhpur and other intermediate stations.
Passengers are advised to check the latest train running status and route information through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), the official Indian Railways website or the railway enquiry helpline 139 before commencing their journeys.
The North Central Railway issued the press release on October 7, 2026, through its Public Relations Office in Prayagraj. The notification was signed by Dr Shivam Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, North Central Railway.
The signalling upgrade forms part of railway infrastructure improvements aimed at strengthening train operations and safety. However, passengers should rely on the latest official railway updates for confirmation of revised routes, station halts and operational arrangements during the work period.
