TWO EXPRESS TRAINS (Train No.12866 & Train No.18002) OF South Eastern Railway TO TERMINATE AT SANTRAGACHI INSTEAD OF HOWRAH DURING FESTIVE SEASON
TWO EXPRESS TRAINS OF South Eastern Railway TO TERMINATE AT SANTRAGACHI INSTEAD OF HOWRAH DURING FESTIVE SEASON
With a view to decongest Howrah station and to ensure punctual running of trains from Howrah during the ensuing festive season, it has been decided that following two down express trains will be short terminated at SANTRAGACHI instead of HOWRAH during the period from 01.10.2025 to 30.11.2025 i.e. for a temporary period of two months:-
i)Train No.12866 Dn Purulia-Howrah Lalmati Express (via Tatanagar)
ii)Train No.18002 Dn Digha-Howrah Kandari Express
However, 12884 Dn Purulia-Howrah Rupasi Bangla Express will run upto Howrah, as usual.
Inconvenience caused to passengers is regretted.
Passengers are requested to check the short terminated at SANTRAGACHI instead of HOWRAH Train status with the Common Train Enquiry Number : 138
I wasn’t able to locate any recent or official confirmation that Train Nos. 12866 (Lalmati Express) and 18002 (Kandari Express) of South Eastern Railway are being diverted or terminating at Santragachi instead of Howrah during any period, including the 2025 festive season.
Historical Context (2025 Festive Season)
Back in 2015, South Eastern Railway issued a temporary arrangement for two express trains during the festive boost in traffic:
- Train No. 12866 – Lalmati Express (Purulia → Howrah)
- Train No. 18002 – Kandari Express (Digha → Howrah)
These were short-terminated at Santragachi instead of Howrah from 1st October to 30th November 2015—primarily to decongest Howrah station and help maintain punctuality during the peak season.
Current Status (As of 2025)
- There are no official notices, press releases, or credible railway updates indicating the same or similar changes for 2025.
- No operational changes have been announced for Lalmati Express or Kandari Express redirecting them to Santragachi.
Summary Table
| Train No. | Train Name | 2025 Festive Update | 2025 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12866 | Lalmati Express | Terminated at Santragachi (Oct–Nov 2025) | No update in 2025 |
| 18002 | Kandari Express | Terminated at Santragachi (Oct–Nov 2025) | No update in 2025 |
If you’d like, I can keep an eye on South Eastern Railway’s future announcements or press bulletins in anticipation of any similar festive-season operations. Just say the word—happy to stay vigilant!