South Central Railway sees over 18 train cancellations daily; passengers bear the brunt

HYDERABAD: South Central Railway (SCR) is witnessing a sharp rise in train cancellations, disrupting passenger services across the zone and leaving thousands of commuters stranded every day.Over the last four years, more than 46,000 trains, including express, mail, passenger, MMTS and DEMU services were cancelled across the SCR network. Though the overall number of cancellations has reduced compared to previous years, cancellations due to non-availability of rakes have increased significantly, rising from just 30 in 2021 to 297 in 2025.On average, nearly 18 trains are being cancelled daily. With a single express train carrying around 1,000 to 1,500 passengers, the disruptions are affecting thousands of travellers each day.Railway officials attributed most cancellations to maintenance blocks, track works and ongoing infrastructure projects. Adverse weather conditions and delays in paired trains also contributed to the disruptions.Data accessed through an RTI filed by TOI revealed that nearly 4.1 lakh trains were cancelled during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, with close to 90% linked to Covid-related restrictions.Passengers, particularly daily commuters and long-distance travellers, say cancellations have become routine, especially in MMTS and passenger services relied upon by office-goers, students and low-income groups. Many also flagged poor communication and last-minute announcements, which often leave passengers scrambling for alternatives.