42 trains cancelled, 25 diverted... This railway route to remain blocked for 16 days.
Rail passengers travelling through Pune should check their train schedules carefully before starting their journey later this month. Central Railway will carry out a major infrastructure block from September 19 to October 4, 2026, affecting dozens of long-distance, suburban and DEMU services.
The disruption is linked to the commissioning of a third railway line between Hadapsar and Ghorpadi in the Pune division. During the block period, 42 trains are scheduled for cancellation on specified dates, while 25 services will operate on diverted routes. Several other trains will be short-terminated, originate from alternative stations, regulated or rescheduled.
The changes are particularly important for passengers travelling on routes connecting Pune with Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur and other major destinations.
Why Is Central Railway Taking This Mega Block?
The temporary disruption is required to commission the new third railway line between Hadapsar and Ghorpadi.
Railway teams will undertake pre-non-interlocking and non-interlocking work at Pune and Hadapsar yards. Engineering, signalling, telecommunications and overhead electrical equipment work will also be carried out during the block.
Some railway lines will remain unavailable while these activities are underway. As a result, Central Railway has had to modify normal train operations.
Once completed, the additional line is expected to improve capacity and operational efficiency on this busy railway section.
42 Trains to Face Cancellation
One of the biggest impacts of the infrastructure work will be the cancellation of 42 train services on different dates during the block period.
The affected list includes several important long-distance and intercity services.
Among them, the Solapur-CSMT Siddheshwar Express is scheduled to be cancelled on October 3, while the CSMT-Solapur service will not operate on October 4. The Nagpur-Pune Express and Pune-Nagpur Express will also face cancellations on specified dates.
The Pune-Solapur and Solapur-Pune Intercity Superfast services are among the other trains facing cancellations during portions of the block period.
Passengers should note that a train appearing on the affected list does not necessarily mean that every journey of that service between September 19 and October 4 is cancelled. Many changes apply only on particular dates.
Routes of 25 Trains Will Be Changed
Cancellation is not the only disruption passengers need to watch for. Twenty-five trains are scheduled to operate on alternative routes during different phases of the infrastructure work.
Some diverted services may travel through sections involving Karjat, Panvel, Kalyan, Igatpuri and Manmad, depending on the particular train and date.
A route diversion can mean that a train skips one or more stations on its normal journey. Passengers should therefore check not only whether their train is running but also whether it will stop at their intended boarding or destination station.
Some Pune Trains Will Start or End at Daund
Several services will also undergo short termination or short origination, meaning they will not complete their usual journey to or from Pune.
For example, the Jabalpur-Pune Express (20162) departing Jabalpur on September 20 is scheduled to terminate at Daund Junction instead of Pune. Its corresponding Pune-Jabalpur Express (20161) on September 21 will originate from Daund rather than Pune.
Similarly, the Rani Kamalapati-Pune Express (22172) scheduled to leave Rani Kamalapati on October 3 will terminate at Daund the following day. The return Pune-Rani Kamalapati Express (22171) will also originate from Daund on October 4.
Passengers booked on affected portions between Pune and Daund will therefore need to pay close attention to the revised arrangements.
Departure Times of Several Trains Will Also Change
Some trains will continue operating but at revised departure times.
For instance, the Pune-Howrah service (12221) is scheduled to leave Pune at 5:00 pm on September 21, while several Pune-Jammu Tawi and Pune-Nagpur services will have revised departure timings on specified dates.
Other affected trains include services connecting Pune with destinations such as Darbhanga, Ajni and Howrah.
Passengers should therefore avoid relying solely on the departure time printed on an older ticket or itinerary and verify the latest schedule closer to their journey.
Local and DEMU Passengers Will Also Be Affected
The impact will not be restricted to long-distance passengers.
The block is also expected to affect suburban and DEMU services in the Pune area.
This makes the operational change particularly important for daily commuters who use trains for shorter journeys around Pune and neighbouring areas.
Since different phases of work will be carried out on different dates, the scale of disruption may vary throughout the block period.
Major Work Scheduled at Pune and Hadapsar Yards
The infrastructure project involves more than simply laying another railway track.
Teams will work on engineering systems, signalling arrangements, telecommunications infrastructure and overhead electrical equipment at the Pune and Hadapsar yards.
The third line is intended to provide additional capacity in a heavily used section of the Pune railway network. Such commissioning work requires changes to signalling and track arrangements before the new infrastructure can be integrated into normal railway operations.
This explains why a large number of services need to be temporarily cancelled, diverted or rescheduled.
Check Train Status Before Leaving for the Station
Passengers with bookings between September 19 and October 4, 2026 should check their train status shortly before travelling.
This is especially important if the journey involves Pune, Hadapsar, Daund or routes passing through the affected section.
Travellers should verify the latest departure time, boarding station, destination station, route and cancellation status rather than checking only whether the train number appears in the timetable.
Indian Railways passengers can use the National Train Enquiry System and other official railway channels for the latest operational information. Rail assistance is also available through 139.
Plan Ahead During the September-October Rail Block
The upcoming Pune railway infrastructure work will create significant temporary disruption, but the project is intended to increase capacity and improve railway operations after commissioning.
For passengers, however, the immediate numbers are important: 42 trains face cancellation and 25 are being diverted, while numerous other services will undergo short termination, short origination, regulation or rescheduling during the September 19-October 4 period.
Anyone planning to travel through the Pune railway division during these dates should recheck their train details before leaving home and make alternative arrangements if their service is affected.