After Shiv Ganga Express, Cantonment railway station is expected to lose several other trains in days to come.
The authorities have decided to shift originating/terminating points of several trains from the station to overcome the excessive load of passenger, goods and express trains.
Trains that terminate at Cantonment railway station and later move to nearby stations for washing and standing in yard have been identified in the first phase.
Chief public relation officer of NER Alok Singh said that "It will help in path saving and clearing."
He further said that Shiv Ganga Express has been shifted to Manduadih railway station. However, originating/termination station of four other trains, including Varanasi-Azamgarh passenger, Varanasi-Ballia passenger, Varanasi-Gorakhpur passenger and Varanasi-Bhatni passenger, has been shifted to Varanasi City railway station.
All these trains arrived at Cantonment railway station from City station before departing for their respective destination via City station, he said adding "as a result tracks remained occupied for long."
Sources claimed that Varanasi-Rameshwaram Express (weekly) and Varanasi-Rajgir Express too could be shifted from Cantonment railway station in near future.
Apart from them, route of 6 trains was extended and frequency of two trains was enhanced. Besides, the budget has also cleared electrification of Allahabad-Chhapra (320 km) route via Varanasi, Ghazipur and Ballia.