Howrah railway station

Howrah
Regional rail, Commuter rail & Inter-city rail station
Howrah Station, view from Hooghly River
Location	Lower Foreshore Rd, Howrah – 711101 West Bengal India
Coordinates	22°34′58″N 88°20′34″E / 22.5828709°N 88.3428112°E / 22.5828709; 88.3428112Coordinates: 22°34′58″N 88°20′34″E / 22.5828709°N 88.3428112°E / 22.5828709; 88.3428112
Elevation	12 metres (39 ft)
Owned by	Indian Railways
Operated by	Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway
Line(s)	Howrah–Delhi main line Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line Howrah–Chennai main line Howrah–Nagpur–Ahmedabad line Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line Howrah–Bardhaman Main Line Howrah–Bardhaman chord Grand Chord
Platforms	23
Connections	Howrah Bus Depot Howrah metro station Howrah Ferry Ghat
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Parking	Available
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Functioning
Station code	HWH
Zone(s)	Eastern Railway (ER) and South Eastern Railway (SER)
Division(s)	Howrah (ER) and Kharagpur (SER)[citation needed]
History
Opened	1854; 167 years ago (1854)
Electrified	1954; 67 years ago (1954)[1]
Previous names	East Indian Railway Company
Passengers
1 million/day (as of 2019)[2]
Services
Preceding station   Kolkata Suburban Railway   Following station Terminus Eastern Line Main line & Chord line Liluah toward Bandel Junction Tikiapara toward Panskura Junction South Eastern Line Main line Terminus
show Route map Legend km Asansol–Tatanagar– Kharagpur line Kharagpur–Puri line Kharagpur–Bankura– Adra line show Kalaikunda Kharagpur–Bankura –Adra line Nimpura Nimpura Through Yard Nimpura Goods Yard Girimaidan Hijli Kharagpur-Puri line 0 Kharagpur NH 60 7 Jakpur 13 Madpur 19 Shyam Chak 24 Balichak 27 Duan 30 Radhamohanpur 35 Haur 39 Khirai km Kangsabati River 44 Panskura Raghunathbari 20 to Ghatal on Sheoraphuli– Bishnupur branch line (u/c) Rajgoda 28 48 Narayan Pakuria Murail Saheed Matangini 33 51 Bhogpur Tamluk 36 00 54 Nandaigajan Nandakumar 10 57 Mecheda (planned) Mayana 43 Keshabpur (planned) Bolaipanda 49 Satish Samanta Halt NH 41 51 Mahishadal Haldi River 60 Barda Lavan Satyagrah Smarak 21 66 Basulya Sutahata Deshapran 33 Tata Chemicals (planned) Nandigram 71 Durgachak (planned) Kandiamari 74 Durgachak Town Silpaprabesh 77 Henria 39 Haldia Petrochemicals Nachinda 52 IOC Haldia Refinery Kanthi 63 79 Bandar Sitalpur 69 Haldia Dock Complex Sujalpur 71 81 Haldia Ashapurna Devi Kolaghat Thermal Power Station Badalpur 78 60 Kolaghat Ramnagar (Bengal) Rupnarayan River Talga Chhari River 64 Deulti (planned) Egra 67 Ghoraghata Tikra 88 70 Bagnan to Jaleswar on Kharagpur– Puri line (under construction) to Amta on Santragachi– Amta branch line (planned) Digha 94 Damodar River 78 Kulgachia km 79 Bir Shibpur to Pujali on Sealdah South lines (planned) 83 Uluberia 85 Phuleswar 88 Chengel Fort Gloster Jute Mill (abandoned) 91 Bauria 95 Nalpur Ambuja Cement 97 Abada │ Abada rail yard 99 Sankrail Delta Jute Mill 103 Andul 105 Mourigram Santragachi–Amta branch line Hindustan Industries and Engineering 108 Santragachi Padmapukur NH 12 (Kona Expressway) Guest Keen Williams 109 Ramrajatala 111 Dasnagar Shalimar │ Shalimar rail yard 112 Tikiapara Howrah–Bardhaman main line & Howrah–Bardhaman chord 115 Howrah km Sources:[3][4][5][6] Legend km Barharwa–Azimganj– Katwa loop Bardhaman–Katwa line 144 Katwa 137 Dainhat 134 Sahebtala Manteshwar (planned) 131 Agradwip 227 Patuli 222 Belerhat km 119 Lakshmipur Bardhaman–Katwa line 116 Mertala Phaleya Bardhaman–Asansol section 113 Purbasthali Bardhaman 107 110 Bhandartikuri Gangpur 100 107 Bishnupriya Saktigarh 96 105 Nabadwip Dham to Nabadwip Ghat (planned) Howrah–Bardhaman chord 101 Kalinagar Palsit 92 97 Samudragarh 94 Nandaigram Rasulpur 88 91 Dhatrigram Nimo (Halt) 85 86 Baghnapara Memari 82 82 Ambika Kalna Bagila 79 75 Guptipara Debipur 75 73 Behula Bainchi 70 68 Somra Bazar Bainchigram 68 65 Balagarh Simlagarh 66 62 Jirat Pundooah 61 57 Khamargachi Khanyan 56 54 Dumurdaha Talandu 51 51 Kuntighat Mogra 47 48 Tribeni Adisaptagram 43 45 Islampara Halt 44 Bansberia Bandel 40 44 Hooghly Ghat Jubilee Bridge over Hooghly River 45 Garifa Sealdah–Ranaghat line 53 Naihati Sealdah–Ranaghat line 38 Hooghly 36 Chuchura 33 Chandannagar 31 Mankundu 29 Bhadreshwar 25 Baidyabati Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur line 23 Seoraphuli Junction 20 Shrirampur 17 Rishra 14 Konnagar 12 Hind Motor 10 Uttarpara 9 Bally Howrah–Bardhaman chord Sealdah–Ranaghat line 7 Belur Belur Math 5 Liluah Howrah–Kharagpur line 0 Howrah km Source: Indian Railway Time Table Legend km Bardhaman–Asansol section Bardhaman–Katwa line 95 Bardhaman 88 Gangpur 83 Saktigarh Howrah–Bardhaman main line NH 19 78 Palla Road 75 Chanchai Bankura–Masagram line 72 Masagram State Highway 15 (Memari–Tarakeswar Road) 69 Nabagram 65 Jaugram 62 Jhapandanga 58 Gurap 56 Hajigarh 54 Cheragram 52 Sibaichandi to Mogra on Howrah–Bardhaman main line Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line to Tarakeswar 49 Dhaniakhali 47 Belmuri 45 Porabazar 41 Chandanpur 36 Madhusudanpur State Highway 2 33 Kamarkundu Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur line 32 Balarambati 30 Mirzapur–Bankipur 27 Baruipara 23 Begampur Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line to Furfura Sharif (planned) 21 Janai Road Jongolpara 16 Gobra 15 Dankuni Dankuni Locomotive Factory NH 19 NH 16 12 Belanagar 7 Bally Howrah–Bardhaman main line Santragachi–Amta branch line Rajchandrapur Bally Halt Sealdah–Ranaghat line Belur Math 5 Liluah Howrah–Kharagpur line 0 Howrah km
Location
Howrah Location in Kolkata Howrah Location in West Bengal Howrah Location in India Show map of KolkataShow map of West BengalShow map of IndiaShow all

Howrah railway station, also known as Howrah Junction, is a railway station located in the city of Howrah, West Bengal, India.^[7] It is the oldest and largest existing railway complex in India.^[8][9] It is one of the busiest train stations in the world.^[10] About 600 passenger trains pass through the station each day, utilising its 23 platforms, and serving more than one million passengers per day.^[2] Howrah is one of five intercity train stations serving the Kolkata metropolitan area (including Howrah and its twin city of Kolkata), the others being Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar and Kolkata railway stations.

Toponymy[]

Eastern Railway, who operate the station, refer to the station as "Howrah". Indian Railways refers to the station as "Howrah Junction". The station is more colloquially referred to as "Howrah Station".

History[]

On 17 June 1851, George Turnbull, the Chief Engineer of the East Indian Railway Company and his team of engineers submitted plans for a railway station at Howrah. In January 1852, the government authorities decided not to purchase the land and expensive water frontage needed for the project, not then realising the future importance of railways. Turnbull then developed other plans to cost an estimated 250,000 rupees. In October 1852, four tenders for the building of the station were received: they varied from 190,000 to 274,526 rupees. The first locomotive left Howrah on 18 June 1853 for the 37.5 miles to Pundoah.

Plaque at Howrah station for first train in Eastern India on 15 August 1854

Great crowds celebrated the first public departure from Howrah for the 23.5 miles to Hooghly on 15 August 1854.^[11][12][13]

The increase of residents in the region around Howrah and Kolkata and the booming economy lead to an increasing demand for rail travel. Also, the rail network kept on growing continuously, e.g. was the Bridge over the Rupnarayan River at Kolaghat completed on 19 April 1900 and connected Howrah with Kharagpur.^[14] The Bengal-Nagpur Railway was extended to Howrah in 1900, thus making Howrah an important railway centre.^[15] So in 1901, a new station building was proposed. The British architect Halsey Ricardo designed the new station.^[15] It was opened to the public on 1 December 1905.^[16][15] This is the current Howrah station building including 15 platform tracks.

On 3 March 1969, the first Rajdhani Express left Howrah for New Delhi.^[17][13]

In the 1980s, the station was expanded to include 8 new platforms on the south side of the station. At the same time, a new Yatri Niwas (transit passenger facility) was built south of the original station frontage.

Until 1992 there was a tram terminus at Howrah Station. Trams departed for Sealdah Station, Rajabazar, Shyambazar, High Court, Dalhousie Square, Park Circus, Ballygunge, Tollygunge etc. Trams also departed for Bandhaghat and Shibpur. The tram terminus was partially closed in 1971 while the Bandhaghat and Shibpur lines were closed. Many unauthorized vehicles and pedestrians began to traverse the tram tracks and so the routes were not continued. The terminus station was converted to underpasses and a bus terminus. The part of the tram terminus for other routes continued to function until 1992, when the Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge) was declared unfit to carry trams because it was a cantilever bridge.

The new terminal complex was finished in 1992, creating a total of 19 platforms.^[13] This was extended by a further 4 platforms in 2009.^[13]

In October 2011, India's first double-decker train left Howrah for Dhanbad.

The first service of the Antyodaya Express started on 4 March 2017 between Ernakulam Junction and Howrah.

Heritage museum[]

The nearby Rail Museum, Howrah opened in 2006 contains a section dedicated to the heritage and history of Howrah railway station.^[18]

Rail services[]

The Eastern Railway runs local trains to Belur Math, Tarakeswar, Arambagh, Goghat, Katwa, Bandel, Sheoraphuli, Bardhaman, Serampore and numerous intermediate stations (see Howrah–Bardhaman main line, Howrah–Bardhaman chord and Tarakeswar branch line). There are also mail and express trains to Central, North and North-East India. A narrow-gauge line formerly used to connect Bardhaman and Katwa, served by DMU trains; but now this line is also converted to broad gauge and used by EMU trains like all the other lines.^[19]

The South Eastern Railway, operates local trains to Amta, Mecheda, Panskura, Haldia, Tamluk, Medinipur and Kharagpur and mail and express trains to Central, West and South India. South Eastern Railway, connects with the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) route to Mumbai and Chennai.

The Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway sections are connected by two links. One is the Lilua–Tikiapara link and the other is the Rajchandrapur–Dankuni-Mourigram link. They are used by goods trains and the Sealdah–Puri Duronto Express avoiding Howrah.

Four major rail routes end at Howrah. They are the Howrah–Delhi, Howrah–Mumbai, Howrah–Chennai and Howrah–Guwahati routes.

After completion Kolkata Metro Line 2 will pass through Howrah Station.^[20]

Station facilities[]

The station is the divisional headquarters for the Eastern Railway.

The station has 23 platforms. Platforms 1 to 16 are located in the old complex, referred to as "Terminal 1". It serves the local and long-distance trains of Eastern Railway and local trains of South Eastern Railway. Platforms 17 to 23 are in the new complex, referred to as "Terminal 2". It serves the long-distance trains of South Eastern Railway.

There is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Google provides RailWire Free high-speed WiFi. In addition, there is a transit passenger facility with dormitory, single-room and double-room accommodation. First-class passengers wait in an air-conditioned area with balcony views of the Kolkata Skyline and the Howrah Bridge.

The station platforms have carriageways for motor vehicles within the complex including two carriageways to platforms 8 and 9 for Eastern Railway and to platforms 21 and 22 for South Eastern Railway. Flyovers at the ends of the platforms allow motor vehicles to exit the complex quickly.

Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas and Regional Rail Museum are a part of "Terminal 2" Howrah station complex.^[21][22]

The railway museum, located south of the station, displays artefacts of historical importance related to the development of Eastern Railway. For many years the Fairy Queen, the world's oldest operational steam locomotive, was displayed on a plinth inside the station.^[23]

Services for rolling stock[]

The station has a diesel-locomotive shed with room for 84 locomotives. The electric-locomotive shed has room for 96 locomotives. There is also an electric-trip shed with the capacity to hold up to 20 locomotives. The sheds accommodate 150+ WAP-4, WAP-5, and WAP-7 locomotives. The EMU car shed has over 15 parking slots. The station has a coach maintenance complex.

Metro station[]

Howrah Station will also get an underground station as part of Line 2 of the Kolkata Metro.^[24] It will be the deepest station on the East-West Metro line of the Kolkata Metro^[20][25] and further the deepest in the country.^[26] The connecting metro stations will be Howrah Maidan to the west and Mahakaran to the east. The station is expected to open in 2021.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery[]

• 

  EMU train bound for Howrah

• 

  Howrah station bus terminal

• 

  Howrah station

• 

  The first locomotive, shown on the right and christened "multum in parvo" (barely visible on the wheel casing), which was used by the East Indian Railway Company in 1854 on its 23-mile line from Howrah to Pandua.

• 

  Yatri Nivas (Travellers' Lodge) at Howrah station

• 

  Double decker train arrives at Howrah station after a trial run

• 

  Howrah railway station area

• 

  Old steam locomotive at Howrah

• 

  Old steam locomotive details

• 

  Howrah entrance

• 

  Howrah platform

Howrah station night view

See also[]

• Kolkata Metro
• Kolkata railway station
• Kolkata suburban railway
• List of Kolkata Metro stations
• Santragachi railway station
• Sealdah railway station
• Shalimar railway station
• Trams in Kolkata

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Howrah station.