VARANASI: Passengers using Banaras railway station in Manduadih on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, face temporary platform changes announced in reports on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The railway administration has reassigned ten train movements across the two dates, including Shiv Ganga Express and services connecting the city with New Delhi, Khajuraho and Agra Cantt.
For residents boarding a train or collecting arriving relatives, the immediate task is to check the train number and travel date before choosing a platform. Friday's Shiv Ganga departure is listed for platform 7, while Saturday's arriving Shiv Ganga is listed for platform 5. The different allocations apply to different directions and dates.
Railway officials have asked travellers to confirm the latest allocation through the National Train Enquiry System, station information boards and announcements. Check again before a train arrives or departs. The changes concern Banaras station, so use the station named on the ticket when looking up the journey.
Which platforms change on October 30 and 31
The following allocations were reported on October 29. Platform 8 was the previous allocation for the listed services except the Gorakhpur Intercity, which moves from platform 6. The temporary arrangements are organised by date below.
| Date in 2026 | Train number and service | Revised platform |
|---|---|---|
| October 30 | 12559 Banaras to New Delhi Shiv Ganga Express | 7 |
| October 30 | 12581 Banaras to New Delhi Superfast Express | 6 |
| October 30 | 22586 Gandhinagar Capital to Banaras Superfast | 6 |
| October 30 | 15103 Gorakhpur to Banaras Intercity Express | 1 |
| October 31 | 22535 Rameswaram to Banaras Superfast | 3 |
| October 31 | 26506 Banaras to Khajuraho Vande Bharat | 3 |
| October 31 | 12560 New Delhi to Banaras Shiv Ganga Express | 5 |
| October 31 | 12582 New Delhi to Banaras Superfast Express | 5 |
| October 31 | 20176 Agra Cantt to Banaras Vande Bharat | 1 |
| October 31 | 20175 Banaras to Agra Cantt Vande Bharat | 1 |
North Eastern Railway's Varanasi division public relations officer Mahesh Gupta was cited in the reports confirming the revised allocations. On Friday, the two listed Delhi departures use separate platforms, 7 and 6. On Saturday, both listed arrivals from New Delhi use platform 5, while the Agra arrivals and departures use platform 1.
What residents should do
Use the official National Train Enquiry System to look up the exact train number. Its public website offers train schedules, live station information, train tracking and exception information. The system cautions that dynamic information can change, which makes the station's latest announcement important even after checking the published allocation.
Keep the date alongside the train number when sharing these changes with someone meeting you. A message saying only that Shiv Ganga uses platform 7 would miss Saturday's separate arrival arrangement. For the Agra service, check whether the person is arriving on 20176 or leaving on 20175, although both are assigned platform 1 on October 31.
Passengers needing railway security or medical assistance can call 139, the number displayed on the official RailMadad website. The same site links to train enquiry and provides separate options for train and station complaints.
Why the station is being prepared
The revised working arrangements coincide with preparations for the proposed October 31 Vande Bharat Sleeper inauguration. On October 29, divisional railway manager Ashish Jain, police commissioner Mohit Agarwal and district magistrate Satyendra Kumar inspected the station. Reports describe checks at the programme area on platform 8 and the circulating area, alongside discussions on security, traffic and parking.
This passenger advisory concerns the changed platforms for existing services. Background on the separate new service is available in our Varanasi to Delhi sleeper timetable report. Other recent travel coverage includes examination special trains through Varanasi and the proposed railway repair shed near the Cantt and Lohta depot.
For official railway information, consult North Eastern Railway and the enquiry services above. The platform list applies specifically to October 30 and 31, 2026; passengers should obtain a fresh confirmation for their own train before boarding.
