Signal system failure at Santragachi hits train services, leaves thousands stranded at Howrah

Train operations across the South Eastern Railway's Kharagpur division have been severely disrupted due to a major signalling system failure at the Santragachi rail yard. The issue, which began after a recently completed interlocking upgrade at Santragachi failed completely, has led to the cancellation of nearly 200 local trains and multiple express trains between April 30 and May 18. Almost all trains scheduled to pass through Santragachi, including both local and long-distance services, have either been cancelled or delayed mid-route. According to railway officials, without complete repairs, train services on the affected route cannot resume.

Thousands of passengers have been affected by the disruption, particularly at Howrah Station’s new complex. Many long-distance travellers arrived at the station the previous night, but remained without information about revised departure times. Over the past few years, several long-distance trains have started operating from Santragachi in addition to Howrah and Sealdah, increasing the impact of the current disruption. Office commuters and inter-state passengers alike have faced delays, cancellations, and extended waiting periods in extreme weather conditions.

A South Eastern Railway official stated that non-interlocking work is currently in progress at the Santragachi rail yard. “Once the work is completed, the issue will be resolved,” the official said. The signalling fault has brought nearly all train movement through Santragachi to a standstill. Due to this issue, all types of trains — from passenger locals to express services — have been affected, with services halted mid-route in some cases. Railway authorities are yet to confirm when full services will resume.