Northern Railway schedules pre-winter track destressing work on Banihal–Baramulla section; affected services to remain suspended until October 31
Srinagar, October 16: Rail travel across parts of the Kashmir Valley will face a temporary disruption from October 17, as Northern Railway has cancelled two passenger train services for 15 days to carry out pre-winter track maintenance aimed at ensuring safe operations during the approaching winter season.
The affected services are Train No. 74615, Banihal–Baramulla, and Train No. 74620, Baramulla–Banihal. Both will remain cancelled from October 17 through October 31, according to reports citing a railway statement issued by the Jammu Division. Kashmir Life Daily Excelsior.
The maintenance work is intended to prepare railway infrastructure for winter conditions, when falling temperatures can affect track performance and make regular inspections and maintenance particularly important. The cancellation will affect passengers who rely on the Banihal–Baramulla rail corridor for daily travel, including commuters, students and people travelling between towns across the Valley.
Railway authorities have advised passengers to check the latest train status through the railway enquiry helpline, 139, or the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) application before beginning their journeys.
Which Kashmir Trains Will Remain Cancelled?
The railway notice identifies two services affected by the scheduled maintenance block.
| Train number | Route | Cancellation period |
|---|---|---|
| 74615 | Banihal to Baramulla | October 17–31 |
| 74620 | Baramulla to Banihal | October 17–31 |
The cancellations cover 15 calendar days, including both October 17 and October 31. Passengers planning to travel on either service during this period will need to check alternative arrangements.
The published information names these two trains specifically. It does not establish that all passenger services across Kashmir will be suspended, nor does it confirm that every other service will operate without any schedule changes.
Why Are the Railways Carrying Out Pre-Winter Maintenance?
The Jammu Division of Northern Railway has scheduled the work to prepare the Kashmir Valley railway infrastructure for the winter season and maintain safe train operations.
One of the activities identified in reports is rail destressing, a maintenance procedure associated with managing stresses in continuously welded rails. Changes in rail temperature can affect the forces within the track, making appropriate inspection and maintenance important for railway safety.
In Kashmir, where winter brings substantial temperature variation and can affect operating conditions, planned maintenance is an important part of preparing the railway network for colder months.
The current block follows earlier maintenance-related service cancellations on the Banihal–Baramulla section. In July, Northern Railway extended cancellations of three services to facilitate scheduled rail maintenance, including pre-BCM high-temperature destressing work. Kashmir Life.
The latest decision is a scheduled engineering measure rather than a reported disruption caused by an accident or an emergency.
Commuters and Students May Need Alternative Travel Arrangements
The Banihal–Baramulla rail corridor is an important transport link for residents travelling between settlements in the Kashmir Valley. Passenger trains are used by people commuting for work and education, attending medical appointments and making routine journeys between towns.
A 15-day interruption to the two listed services may require affected passengers to reconsider their travel times or use road transport where available.
For regular commuters, the impact may be particularly significant when rail travel forms part of a daily journey. Passengers should therefore confirm whether their usual service is operating before leaving for the station, rather than relying on an older timetable or a previously planned departure.
The available railway reports do not specify whether additional replacement services will operate during the maintenance period. Passengers should seek confirmation from official railway channels before making arrangements based on the assumption that an alternative train will be available.
How Passengers Can Check Train Status
Northern Railway has asked passengers to verify their train details before commencing their journey.
Travellers can use the following official channels:
- Railway enquiry helpline: Dial 139.
- National Train Enquiry System (NTES): Check the latest train running status and service information through the NTES application or official railway enquiry portal.
- Station enquiry: Confirm operational updates with railway staff before travelling.
The Indian Railways passenger enquiry service provides updated information on train arrivals and departures. National Train Enquiry System information.
Passengers with bookings should also confirm the status of their particular service and any applicable cancellation or refund arrangements through the relevant booking channel.
Safe Winter Operations Remain the Priority
The temporary cancellation of the two services is part of the Railways’ preparations to maintain safe operations during the coming winter.
For passengers, the immediate concern is the inconvenience caused by the interruption, particularly for those who depend on the railway for regular travel. For the railway administration, the scheduled maintenance is intended to help ensure that infrastructure is prepared for seasonal operating conditions.
With the block scheduled to run until October 31, passengers travelling on the Banihal–Baramulla corridor should check for updates throughout the period. Any extension or change to the published schedule should be confirmed through an official railway announcement.
For now, the announced disruption is limited to Train Nos. 74615 and 74620. The two services are scheduled to remain cancelled from October 17 to October 31 while pre-winter track maintenance is carried out in the Kashmir Valley.
