Passengers travelling to Haldwani, Kathgodam and nearby hill areas faced continued disruption as trains returning from Kolkata and Delhi ran late. Railway officials at Kathgodam said signal work in Bihar had forced several trains to operate on diverted routes.

The delays affected both scheduled arrival times and passengers’ late-night travel plans. Many people heading towards the hills stayed at the station because transport and other facilities were limited at night.

Bagh Express reaches late

The Bagh Express, which runs from Howrah to Kathgodam, reached on Sunday at 11:10 AM AM instead of its scheduled 9:30 AM AM arrival. The train was therefore one hour 40 minutes late.

The Sampark Kranti Express returning from Delhi has also been arriving behind schedule. Officials attributed the delay to the train not receiving signals on the busy route.

On October 4, the train reached Kathgodam Railway Station at 12:15 PM AM instead of its scheduled 10:45 AM PM arrival. It reached at one:30 AM on October 3. The late arrivals created particular difficulty for passengers travelling onward to mountain destinations.

Seats remain heavily booked

Travel demand remained high even after the 3-day weekend ended. According to the railway website, the Ranikhet Express from Kathgodam through Delhi to Jaisalmer had sleeper-class waiting lists ranging from 95 to 140 for journeys from Tuesday through October 12.

The train’s Third AC and Second AC classes were also full, with waiting lists ranging from 24 to 72. The return service showed a similar booking position.

The Bagh Express had no vacant seats in either direction for a week. Its sleeper-class waiting list ranged from 50 to 80.

On the Bagh Express departing from Kathgodam, even waitlisted tickets were unavailable for the sleeper class on Tuesday, October 9 and October 11. The railway booking system also showed the status as “regret” for Third AC and Second AC tickets on the incoming Ranikhet Express for Sunday.

Roadways sees some relief

The Uttarakhand Roadways Corporation experienced a decline in passenger numbers on Monday after the weekend rush ended. Passenger movement on the Nainital-Delhi route had remained high for the previous 3 days.

Haldwani depot assistant regional manager Sanjay Pandey said Delhi-bound buses carried passengers in the morning, while operations returned to normal levels in the afternoon.

Online bookings for Delhi-route Volvo and AC services also fell after the weekend. Only 40% of seats were booked, compared with the heavier demand during the weekend.

Conclusion

Signal work in Bihar continued to affect train schedules, while strong demand kept seats on the Ranikhet and Bagh Express difficult to obtain. Passengers travelling towards the hills faced both delayed arrivals and limited late-night facilities at Kathgodam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why are trains arriving late at Kathgodam?

Signal work in Bihar has caused several trains to operate on diverted routes. Signal-related delays on the busy route have also affected the Sampark Kranti Express.

Q. How late did the Bagh Express arrive on Sunday?

The Bagh Express arrived at 11:10 AM AM instead of 9:30 AM AM, making it one hour 40 minutes late.

Q. When did the Sampark Kranti Express arrive on October 4?

It reached Kathgodam Railway Station at 12:15 PM AM instead of its scheduled 10:45 AM PM arrival.

Q. How late did the Sampark Kranti Express arrive on October 3?

The train reached Kathgodam at one:30 AM.

Q. What was the waiting list for the Ranikhet Express sleeper class?

The sleeper-class waiting list ranged from 95 to 140 for journeys from Tuesday through October 12.

Q. Were seats available on the Bagh Express?

The Bagh Express had no vacant seats in either direction for a week. Its sleeper-class waiting list ranged from 50 to 80.

Q. What happened to Delhi-route bus bookings after the weekend?

Online bookings for Delhi-route Volvo and AC services fell to 40% after the weekend rush.

Q. How did roadways passenger numbers change on Monday?

Passenger numbers on the Nainital-Delhi route declined on Monday, and afternoon bus operations returned to normal levels.