Passengers alight from the Rajdhani Express that arrived 14 hours behind schedule at Patna Junction on Thursday evening. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The cold and fog have sent train schedules for a toss and made journeys painful for passengers forced to wait for hours at the railway station.

Almost all trains, including the Rajdhanis, have been affected by the foggy conditions. The Rajdhani supposed to depart at 7.15pm on Wednesday from Patna Junction left close to 12 hours later, at 6.30am on Thursday.

The Patna-bound Rajdhani is no better off. The train reached Patna Junction at least 14 hours behind schedule on Thursday.

Supposed to reach at 5.40am, the train arrived at Patna Junction at 8.05pm.

Already reeling from delays, passengers are also disappointed with poor service at the enquiry counters.

“The railway inquiry system and the counter have gone for a toss in the cold. Vague replies and wrong information are all that we are getting. We are unable to know the correct status of our trains,” said Mithlesh Anand, a passenger found waiting at Patna Junction for the Magadh Express on Thursday afternoon.

Senior RJD leader Jagadanand Singh,who was on the Patna Rajdhani (12310), termed the delays nature’s obstacle.

“I can understand that people are facing difficulties but we all are helpless before nature. No one can do anything in this. I am travelling on Patna Rajdhani and getting my meals on time,” he told The Telegraph over phone.

East Central Railway chief public relations officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said: “We are taking all precautionary measures and trying our best to ensure a comfortable journey for the passengers. As far as the foggy condition is concerned, we cannot do anything.”

That is no relief for the passengers though.

The Vikramshila Express, scheduled to reach Patna Junction at 6.45am from Anand Vihar Terminal, reached at 4pm after a delay of nine hours. The New Delhi-Howrah Poorva Express was running late, as was the Howrah Rajdhani via Patna (12305) by around eight hours. The Dibrugarh Rajdhani (12424) passing through Patna was also running late by seven and odd hours.

Running late by 10-15 hours are the Shaheed Express (14673), Sampark Kranti Express (12565), Vaishali Express (12553), Delhi-Magadh Express (12401), Rajendra Nagar-Mumbai CST Express (12142) and Sanghamitra Express (12296).