Gorakhpur Railway Mega Block Extended To March 2026, Major Train Delays Expected

The introduction of new trains from Gorakhpur, including the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express, is expected to be delayed until at least April 2026. The significant delay is due to the slow pace of reconstruction work on the Old Washing Pit at Gorakhpur Junction, which has only seen 30 per cent completion in the last five months.

Project Delays And Extended Block

Railway Gati Shakti, the entity responsible for the project, has implemented a mega block at the Old Washing Pit, which will now be extended until March 30, 2026. This extension means that no cleaning, washing or maintenance of trains can be performed at the pit during this period.

According to the Chief Project Manager of Gati Shakti, the initial block for the reconstruction of washing pit number one was from May 19, 2025 to December 4, 2025. However, citing "technical reasons" for the slow progress, the department has requested the railway administration to extend the block. With the new deadline, the washing pit is expected to become operational only from March 31, 2026, pushing any new activity to April.

Impact On Current Train Operations

The ongoing work and the mega block since May 19 have already disrupted the schedules of dozens of trains originating from Gorakhpur. The key impacts include:

Maintenance Shift: The maintenance of trains like the Gorakhpur-Anand Vihar Weekly Express is being carried out at the washing pits of other stations.

Route Extensions: The routes of several major express trains, including the Gorakhpur-LTT, Godan, Gorakhpur-Pune, and Sabarmati, have been extended. These trains are now being operated from other stations, and their extensions are set to be increased further.

Consequences For Passengers And Future Services

This disruption has led to significant inconvenience for passengers, with trains frequently running late and experiencing delays in arriving at the platforms of Gorakhpur Junction.

Furthermore, the operational constraints have halted the launch of any new trains from the city.

Vande Bharat Delayed: Permission has not been granted for the proposed semi-high-speed Gorakhpur-Agra Vande Bharat train.

Capacity Issues: The Mechanical Department has formally stated its inability to handle any proposed new trains, as the New Washing Pit is already servicing more trains than its designated capacity.

Festive Strain: The railway administration is facing significant challenges in managing the operation of even the currently running Puja special trains.

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In response to the situation, the General Manager of North Eastern Railway, Uday Borwankar, conducted a detailed inspection of the Old Washing Pit a day prior. He has instructed the officials in charge to ensure the timely completion of the construction work while maintaining high quality.

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