OREANDA-NEWS. November 25, 2011. Ministry of Railways has decided to cancel/partial cancellation/divert mail/express trains during fog period from 1st December 2011 to 31st January 2012. Earlier this was announced to be effective from 20th December 2011. This is being done keeping in view the safety of the travelling passengers. It may also be noted that the fog conditions this year have occurred earlier than normally forecast and also as compared to last year and which is resulting in preponement of schedule of cancelled trains etc. The cancellation etc. of trains is being announced in advance so that travellers can plan their alternative journeys accordingly and are put to minimum inconvenience.

Zonal Railways have also been requested to constantly keep a watch on fog conditions, keep reviewing the status and consider starting cancelled trains with 3-days notice whenever and wherever feasible.

Zonal Railways specially Northern Railway (headquarter New Delhi), North Central Railway (headquarter Allahabad), North Eastern Railway (headquarter Gorakhpur), North-east Frontier Railway (headquarter Guwahati), North Western Railway (headquarter Jaipur), Eastern Railway (headquarter Kolkatta), East Central Railway (headquarter Hajipur) have been advised to ensure adequate publicity of these changes for the benefit of the public.

The passengers are also advised to check the train running status on Enquiry No. 139 before reaching stations. The travelling public can also look for information through the notifications and advertisements being issued by Railways in respective local newspapers. The information is also being made available on the Ministry of Railway website www.indianrailways.gov.in and in other Zonal Railway websites.