Dense Fog Disrupts North India Trains, Causing Vande Bharat Service Delays and Cancellations

Dense fog and a biting cold wave once again slowed North India’s morning rush today, with low visibility disrupting both regular and premium train operations. Passengers on the busy Delhi–Punjab corridor woke up to cascading delays, and at least one Vande Bharat service on the route was cancelled, forcing many commuters to hurriedly rework work, business and family travel plans at short notice.

Railway officials said visibility dropped sharply before dawn along key stretches between Delhi, Ambala, Ludhiana and Amritsar, triggering mandatory speed restrictions for safety. As drivers crawled through dense fog pockets, delays quickly multiplied across the network, including flagship Vande Bharat trains, which usually enjoy priority paths. Many passengers reported receiving disruption alerts only after reaching stations for early morning departures.

Dense fog hits Vande Bharat and premium routes

Over the last fortnight, dense fog has repeatedly derailed schedules in Punjab and adjoining regions, and today followed the same pattern. Reports from Ludhiana division show several major trains running between two and six hours late on foggy mornings, with some earlier instances of delays extending beyond 10 hours on key North India links.

Vande Bharat services, marketed as high-speed and high-reliability, have not been spared. A recent operational review noted that dedicated spare Vande Bharat rakes had to be deployed from New Delhi and Varanasi to stabilise punctuality during fog spells, underlining the scale of disruption this winter. On the Delhi–Punjab sector today, one scheduled Vande Bharat run was cancelled while others departed with significant delays.

Why trains slow down so sharply in winter fog

Railway officials stress that the disruption is rooted in safety norms rather than operational laxity. In dense fog, loco pilots rely more on trackside signals, fog-signal lamps and speed cautions, often reducing speed dramatically over vulnerable stretches. Northern India’s winter inversion keeps cold air trapped near the surface, so fog lingers well into mid-morning, compressing timetables long after sunrise.

To limit the risk of accidents, zones across North India activate winter fog timetables, curtailing or cancelling selected long-distance trains between December and March. East Central Railway, for instance, has already suspended or reduced services on multiple routes through Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh until late February, specifically citing persistent dense fog and visibility concerns.

Scale of cancellations and chronic delays

Winter preparations this season include advance cancellation of several trains crossing Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with some suspensions notified up to March 1, 2026. The proactive steps have trimmed congestion, but real-time data from field divisions shows that dozens of remaining trains still face major delays whenever visibility drops below safe thresholds along busy trunk routes.

Impact Area	Typical Winter Effect Reported
Delhi–Punjab mainline	Premium and express trains delayed 2–6 hours on dense fog mornings
Bihar–UP–Delhi routes	Multiple long-distance trains cancelled or short-terminated till late February
North India network	Over 20 Delhi-bound trains running 3+ hours late on peak fog days

National broadcasters recently cited Delhi Division figures showing more than twenty Delhi-bound trains running over three hours late on a single fog-hit day, alongside heavy disruption in flight schedules. For passengers on today’s Delhi–Punjab Vande Bharat corridor, this broader pattern translated into missed connections, packed waiting rooms and last-minute changes to bus, taxi and metro combinations.

Refunds, auto-cancellation and rescheduling tips

Indian Railways officials advise passengers to rely on official digital channels before starting for the station on foggy mornings. Live train status can be checked through NTES, the Railways’ enquiry portal, and the IRCTC website or app, which reflect real-time delays, diversions and cancellations, including for Vande Bharat services. SMS alerts and app notifications are pushed automatically when schedules change for reserved passengers.

If a train is fully cancelled, passengers with e-tickets are eligible for automatic refunds, processed back to the original payment mode without filing a separate claim. For partially cancelled, diverted or rescheduled trains, passengers can cancel online before the new departure and receive refunds as per railway rules. Counter ticket holders need to approach reservation counters for refunds within the prescribed time limits on the day of travel.

How commuters can plan alternate connections

Travel planners recommend building extra buffers into winter itineraries in North India, especially when using Vande Bharat or Shatabdi services to catch flights or important meetings. When morning trains are heavily delayed, intra-state buses, overnight services, and metro or suburban links can sometimes offer more predictable arrival times for shorter legs, though these modes also see crowding during severe fog spells.

Experts also suggest tracking IMD fog forecasts a day in advance and avoiding non-essential early-morning departures on days flagged for very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. For many commuters on the Delhi–Punjab Vande Bharat corridor today, the disruption served as another reminder that winter visibility, rather than train speed, often decides whether they reach on time.