Howrah railway station: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Railway station in Howrah, West Bengal, India}}
{{for|the underground railway station|Howrah metro station}}
{{redirect|HWH|the station in England|Haltwhistle railway station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox station
{{Infobox station
| name = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|50px]]<br />{{font color|blue|Howrah}}
| name               = Howrah
| native_name =  
| type              = {{Plainlist|
| native_name_lang =  
* [[Indian Railways]]
| style = Kolkata Suburban Railway
*  [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]]
| type = [[Regional rail]], [[Commuter rail]] & [[Inter-city rail]] station
}}
| image = Howrah_Station.jpg
| native_name_lang  = bn
| image_caption = Howrah Station, view from [[Hooghly River]]
| symbol            = s
| address = Lower Foreshore Rd, [[Howrah]] – 711101 [[West Bengal]]
| symbol_location    = kolkata
| country = India
| style             = Kolkata Suburban Railway
| coordinates = {{coord|22.5828709|88.3428112|type:railwaystation_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| image = {{Photomontage|
  | photo2a=Howrah Railway Station 04.jpg
  | photo1a=065.STARTED FROM HOTEL MANISH ON 14.08.2017 AT 02-30 P.M. FOR HOWRAH RAILWAY STATION BY HIRED TAXI.jpg
  | size        = 300
  | spacing      = 0
  | color        = white
  | color_border = transparent
  }}
| image_caption = Howrah Station Eastern (top) and South Eastern (bottom) Railway Complex, West Bengal
| address = Lower Foreshore Rd, [[Howrah, West Bengal]] 711101
| country = {{flag|India}}
| coordinates = {{coord|22.5829|88.3428|type:railwaystation_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = {{convert|12|m|ft}}
| elevation = {{convert|12|m|ft}}
| owned = [[Indian Railways]]
| owned = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway (India)|Eastern Railway]] and [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway (India)|Eastern Railway]]
| line = [[Howrah–Delhi main line]]<br />[[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]]<br />[[Howrah–Chennai main line]] <br />[[Howrah]]–[[Nagpur]]–[[Ahmedabad]] line<br />[[Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line]]<br />[[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line]]<br />[[Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line]]<br />[[Howrah–Bardhaman Main Line]]<br />[[Howrah–Bardhaman chord]]<br />[[Grand Chord]]
 
| platform = 23
[[South Eastern Railway (India)|South Eastern Railway]]
| tracks = 23
| line = * [[Howrah–Delhi main line]]  
| connections = {{rint|kolkata|bus}} Howrah Bus Depot<br />{{rint|kolkata|ewm}} [[Howrah metro station]]<br />{{rint|ferry}}Howrah Ferry Ghat
* [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]]
| structure = At grade
* [[Howrah–Chennai main line]]  
| parking = Available{{rint|park}}
* [[Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line]]  
| bicycle = Yes {{rint|bike}}
* [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line]]  
| ADA = Yes {{rint|wheelchair}}
* [[Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line]]  
| status = Functioning
* [[Grand Chord]]
| platform = 23 platforms<br> '''Length–''' '''''{{cvt|650-700|m}}'''''
* Old Complex
** Fully/Partially Operational: 1–15
** Under Construction: 16
* New Complex
** Fully Operational: 17–23
** Under Construction: 24
| tracks = 25
| connections = {{ric|Kolkata Metro|green}} '''[[Howrah metro station|Howrah]]''' <br />
{{rint|bus}} Howrah Bus Depot <br /> {{rint|ferry}} Howrah Ferry Ghat
| structure = [[Intersection_(road)#At_grade_railways|At grade]]
| parking = {{color|green|Available}} {{rint|parking}}
| bicycle = {{color|green|Available}} {{rint|bicycle}}
| status = {{color|green|Active}}
| accessible = Yes {{rint|wheelchair}}
| code = {{Indian railway code
| code = {{Indian railway code
   | code = HWH
   | code = HWH
   | zone = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway (ER)]] and [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway (SER)]]
   | zone = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]<br />[[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]]
   | division = {{rwd|Howrah}} (ER) and [[Kharagpur railway division|Kharagpur]] (SER){{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
   | division = {{rwd|Howrah}}<br />{{rwd|Kharagpur}}
   }}
   }}
| opened = {{start date and age|1854}}
| opened = {{start date and age|1854}}
Line 33: Line 62:
| electrified = {{start date and age|df=yes|1954}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-elec.html#three |title=[IRFCA&#93; Indian Railways FAQ: Electric Traction – I |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=2012-06-13}}</ref>
| electrified = {{start date and age|df=yes|1954}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-elec.html#three |title=[IRFCA&#93; Indian Railways FAQ: Electric Traction – I |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=2012-06-13}}</ref>
| former = [[East Indian Railway Company]]
| former = [[East Indian Railway Company]]
| passengers = 1 million/day (as of 2019)<ref name="2019-10-27-telegraph-riot" />
| passengers = 1.8Million/Day
| pass_system =  
| pass_system = {{increase}} {{color|#fc5|high}}
| pass_year =  
| pass_year =  
| pass_percent =  
| pass_percent =  
| services = {{s-rail|title=Kolkata Suburban Railway}}
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Kolkata Suburban Railway
{{s-line|system=Kolkata Suburban Railway|previous= |next= Liluah |line= Eastern |branch= [[Howrah–Bardhaman main line|Main line]] & [[Howrah–Bardhaman chord|Chord line]]|type2 = Bandel Junction}}
|line=Eastern|left=|right=Liluah|to-right=Bandel Junction|type=[[Howrah–Bardhaman main line|Main line]] & [[Howrah–Bardhaman chord|Chord line]]
{{s-line|system=Kolkata Suburban Railway|previous= Tikiapara|next= |line= South Eastern |branch= [[Howrah–Kharagpur line|Main line]]|type= Kharagpur}}
|line2=South Eastern|left2=Tikiapara|right2=|to-left2=Midnapore|type2=[[Howrah–Kharagpur line|Main line]]
| map_type = India Kolkata#India West Bengal#India
}}
| map_caption = Location in Kolkata##Location in West Bengal##Location in India
| services_collapsible = yes
| map_dot_label = Howrah
| route_map = {{Howrah–Kharagpur line}}
| map_size = 300
{{Howrah–Bardhaman main line}}
| route_map = {{Howrah–Kharagpur line}}{{Howrah–Bardhaman main line}}{{Howrah–Bardhaman chord}}
{{Howrah–Bardhaman chord}}
| map_state = collapsed
| map_state = collapsed
| map_type = West Bengal ##India
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-custom = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=180|zoom=14|type=point|marker=rail}}
}}
}}


'''Howrah railway station''', also known as '''Howrah Junction''', is a railway station located in the city of [[Howrah]], [[West Bengal]], India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Howrah JN (HWH) railway station|url=https://www.ndtv.com/indian-railway/howrah-jn-hwh-station|url-status=live|access-date=4 August 2020|website=NDTV Rail Beeps}}</ref> It is the oldest and largest existing railway complex in India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=অযান্ত্রিক|date=2015-11-18|title=Howrah Railway Junction Station, Howrah, 1854 –|url=https://puronokolkata.com/2015/11/18/howrah-railway-junction-station-howrah-1854/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=puronokolkata}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-06-29|title=Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156 {{!}} Deccan Chronicle|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629014508/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/south/third-oldest-railway-station-country-set-turn-156-518|access-date=2020-10-20|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> It is one of the busiest train stations in the world.<ref name="2019-04-04-mirror" /> About 600 passenger trains pass through the station each day, utilising its 23 platforms, and serving more than one million passengers per day.<ref name="2019-10-27-telegraph-riot" /> Howrah is one of five intercity train stations serving the [[Kolkata metropolitan area]] (including [[Howrah]] and its twin city of [[Kolkata]]), the others being {{stnlnk|Sealdah}}, {{stnlnk|Santragachi}}, {{stnlnk|Shalimar}} and [[Kolkata railway station]]s.
'''Howrah railway station''' (also known as '''Howrah Junction''') is a [[railway station]] located in the city of [[Howrah]], of [[ Kolkata Metropolitan Area]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Howrah JN (HWH) railway station|url=https://www.ndtv.com/indian-railway/howrah-jn-hwh-station|access-date=4 August 2020|website=NDTV Rail Beeps}}</ref> It is the largest and busiest railway complex in India,<ref>{{Cite web|last=অযান্ত্রিক|date=2015-11-18|title=Howrah Railway Junction Station, Howrah, 1854 –|url=https://puronokolkata.com/2015/11/18/howrah-railway-junction-station-howrah-1854/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=puronokolkata}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-08 |title=Ten busiest railway stations of India |url=https://www.educationworld.in/ten-busiest-railway-stations-of-india/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=EducationWorld |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-26 |title=Most Busiest Railway Stations of India |url=https://erail.in/blog/busiest-railway-stations-of-India/56 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=erail.in}}</ref> as well as one of the [[List of busiest railway stations|busiest]] and [[Railway platform#Greatest number of platforms|largest]] train stations in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-07 |title=7 of the Busiest Train Stations in the World |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/7-of-the-busiest-train-stations-in-the-world.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pritchard |first=Tim |date=2019-04-04 |title=Imagine sharing a commute through one station with half a million people |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/worlds-four-busiest-train-stations-14235935 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> It is also the oldest surviving railway  complex in India. Howrah is one of the large intercity railway stations serving the [[Kolkata metropolitan area]], the others being {{stnlnk|Sealdah}}, {{stnlnk|Santragachi}}, {{stnlnk|Shalimar}}, {{rws|Dankuni}} and [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata station]].


==Toponymy==
The first public train from the station was on 15 August 1854, on what is now the Howrah – Hooghly Main Line.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Howrah Division. Historical Perspective - The First Journey. Brief Details. |url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/print_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,737 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928230441/https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/print_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,737 |archive-date=28 Sep 2022 |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=Indian Railways Portal |publisher=Indian Railways}}</ref> At present{{when|date=December 2023}}, about 600 passenger trains pass through the station, serving more than  1 million passengers a day.<ref name="2019-10-27-telegraph-riot">{{cite news |title=Passengers run riot in Howrah |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/passengers-run-riot-in-howrah/cid/1714510 |access-date=4 January 2020 |publisher=The Telegraph India |date=27 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Joydeep |date=2020-05-12 |title=Buzz back at India's busiest station after nearly 2 months |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/buzz-back-at-india-s-busiest-station-after-nearly-2-months/story-Kh2oKM8BLjBMTHUexKWvVP.html |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Utilising its 22 operational platforms, the station handles a total of 252 Mail/Express trains and 500 suburban [[EMU (train)|EMU]] trains daily;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Railways Portal |url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/print_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,737 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=er.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref> ten of the platforms are long enough to cater to trains with more than 24 coaches.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Report of the Comptroller and Auditor Generalof India on Augmentation of Station Line Capacity on selected stations in Indian Railways for the year ended March 2017 |url=https://cag.gov.in/webroot/uploads/download_audit_report/2018/Report_No_17_of_2018_-_Performance_Audit_on_Augmentation_of_Station_Line_Capacity_on_selected_Stations_in_Indian_Railways_Union_Governme.pdf |pages=50–52 |year=2018 |publisher=Union Government (Railways)}}</ref> Goods and parcel trains also originate and terminate here.<ref name=":1" /> The [[Howrah–Barddhaman main line]] is the busiest line that connects this station.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mondal |first1=Bhaswati |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTw6EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA22 |title=Mobilities in India: The Experience of Suburban Rail Commuting |last2=Samanta |first2=Gopa |date=2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-78350-1 |pages=22 |url-access=limited}}</ref>
[[Eastern Railway (India)|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==
==History==
On 17 June 1851, [[George Turnbull (civil engineer)|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 [[Indian rupee|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 [[Pandua, Hooghly|Pundoah]]. [[File:Plaque at Howrah station for first train in Eastern India on 15th August 1854 IMG 20190815 073929.jpg|thumb|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 district|Hooghly]] on 15 August 1854.<ref>Diaries of [[George Turnbull (civil engineer)|George Turnbull]] (Chief Engineer, [[East Indian Railway Company]]) held at the [[Centre of South Asian Studies]] at [[Cambridge University]], England</ref><ref>'' George Turnbull, C. E .'' pages 110, 121, 122, 125 and 127 of the 437-page memoirs published privately 1893, scanned copy held in the British Library, London on compact disk since 2007</ref><ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" />
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Howrah Junction - The Calcutta Terminus of the East Indian Railway.jpg
| alt1              = Old view of Howrah railway station
| caption1          = Old view of Howrah railway station
| image2            = Howrah Railway Station 01.jpg
| alt2              = Present view of Howrah railway station
| caption2          = Present view of Howrah railway station
}}
In 1849, a contract was signed between the [[East Indian Railway Company]] and [[East India Company]] and an initial amount allocated for the first section between Howrah and ''Raneegunge'' ([[Raniganj]]) via ''Pandooah'' ([[Pandua, Hooghly]]) and ''Burdwan'' ([[Bardhaman]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andrew |first=Sir William Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEEKAAAAIAAJ |title=Indian Railways as Connected with British Empire in the East |date=1884 |publisher=W.H. Allen & Company |pages=229}}</ref> [[Frederick Walter Simms]], the consulting engineer to Government of India, initially envisaged a station on the right side of [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] in 1846. However, after the funds were sanctioned, Howrah was chosen as the terminus for the new line.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davidson |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zloOAAAAQAAJ |title=The Railways of India: With an Account of Their Rise, Progress, and Construction |date=1868 |publisher=E. & F. N. Spon |pages=135, 136}}</ref> A bridge spanning 1,700 feet (520 m) across the [[Hooghly River]] was considered unfeasible at the time.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=47}} In the following years, discussions frequently arose about connecting the rail line to Calcutta.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=47}}


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.<ref>{{cite web |work= The Telegraph|location=Kolkota |url= https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/a-bridge-over-roopnarayan/cid/329775 |title= A bridge over Roopnarayan |publisher= The Telegraph India |access-date= 2020-04-16}}</ref> The Bengal-Nagpur Railway was extended to Howrah in 1900, thus making Howrah an important railway centre.<ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday"/> So in 1901, a new station building was proposed. The British architect [[Halsey Ricardo]] designed the new station.<ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday" /> It was opened to the public on 1 December 1905.<ref>{{cite web |work= Business Line |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/02/stories/2005120202711900.htm |title= Howrah Station is veritably the heartbeat of Kolkata |date= 2005-12-02 |access-date= 2009-01-02}}</ref><ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday">{{cite news |last1=Sen |first1=Swagata |title=Howrah station centenary celebrations: A tribute to the history it has witnessed|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/heritage/story/20051219-howrah-station-centenary-celebrations-a-tribute-to-the-history-it-has-witnessed-786354-2005-12-19 |access-date=3 April 2019 |work=India Today |date=19 December 2005 }}</ref> This is the current Howrah station building including 15 platform tracks.
On 17 June 1851, [[George Turnbull (civil engineer)|George Turnbull]], the Chief Engineer of the [[East Indian Railway Company]] and his team of engineers submitted plans for a railway station at Howrah. Unaware of the future significance of railways in India, the government decided against purchasing the land and expensive waterfront required for the project in January 1852. Turnbull then developed alternative development plans that estimated the cost at 250,000 [[Indian rupee|rupees]]. In October 1852, four tenders for the building of the station were received: they varied from 190,000 to 274,526 rupees.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> The size of the construction project - of whether Howrah should be a large station or Howrah be a smaller station in favour of a larger station being developed at another time - was debated from time to time during this process.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=48}} Eventually land was bought.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=48}}


On 3 March 1969, the first [[Rajdhani Express]] left Howrah for [[New Delhi]].<ref name="2019-03-04-UNI">{{cite news |title=Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express Service completes glorious 50 yrs in passenger service |url=http://www.uniindia.com/howrah-new-delhi-rajdhani-express-completes-glorious-50-yrs-in-passenger-service/india/news/1517981.html |access-date=3 April 2019 |publisher=United News of India |date=4 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" />
The first experimental locomotive left Howrah on {{Citation needed span|text=18 June 1853|date=August 2022|reason=28 June 1854}} for the 37.5 miles to [[Pandua, Hooghly|Pandoah]].<ref name=":5">Diaries of [[George Turnbull (civil engineer)|George Turnbull]] (Chief Engineer, [[East Indian Railway Company]]) held at the [[Centre of South Asian Studies]] at [[Cambridge University]], England</ref><ref name=":6">'' George Turnbull, C. E .'' pages 110, 121, 122, 125 and 127 of the 437-page memoirs published privately 1893, scanned copy held in the British Library, London on compact disk since 2007</ref> There was a gap between laying the line and opening it up since the ship carrying the carriages sank while the locomotive ended up in Australia. Eventually the carriages were built locally and the locomotive was directed to Calcutta.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=86}} The first public departure from Howrah for the 23.5 miles to [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] was on 15 August 1854.<ref name=":2" /> During this period, the station was located at what is now the office of the divisional railway manager of Howrah.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Mitra |first=Debraj |date=7 August 2022 |title=East-West Metro work unearths '19th-century' track near upcoming Howrah station |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/east-west-metro-work-unearths-19th-century-track-near-upcoming-howrah-station/cid/1878723 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=My Kolkata. The Telegraph India Online}}</ref> It consisted of one line and platform, a ticket window and a supporting building.<ref name=":3" /> Two weeks later the line to [[Pandua, Hooghly|Pundoah]] was opened.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Huddleston |first=George |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GMU1AQAAMAAJ |title=History of the East Indian Railway |date=1906 |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Company |pages=14}}</ref> In the first 4 months, over 109,000 passengers used the service.<ref name=":2" /> The locomotive was of the same type as the ''[[Fairy Queen (locomotive)|Fairy Queen]].{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=111}}''


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.
Indians on their way to European colonies in the early 1800s came through the Howrah Station.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hill |first=Arthur H. |date=September 1919 |title=Emigration from India |url=https://archive.org/details/timehrijournalo361919roya/page/n18/mode/1up?view=theater |journal=Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana |volume=6 |pages=50–51 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>


Until 1992 there was a tram terminus at Howrah Station. Trams departed for [[Sealdah Station]], [[Rajabazar, Kolkata|Rajabazar]], [[Shyambazar]], [[Calcutta High Court|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 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Amrita |date=8 March 2013 |title=A bridge over Roopnarayan |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/a-bridge-over-roopnarayan/cid/329775 |access-date=2020-04-16 |publisher=The Telegraph India}}</ref> The Bengal-Nagpur Railway was extended to Howrah in 1900, thus making Howrah an important railway centre.<ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday"/> So in 1901, a new station building was proposed. The British architect [[Halsey Ricardo]] designed the new station.<ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday" /> It was opened to the public on 1 December 1905,<ref name="2005-12-19-indiatoday">{{cite news |last1=Sen |first1=Swagata |title=Howrah station centenary celebrations: A tribute to the history it has witnessed|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/heritage/story/20051219-howrah-station-centenary-celebrations-a-tribute-to-the-history-it-has-witnessed-786354-2005-12-19 |access-date=3 April 2019 |work=India Today |date=19 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2005-12-02 |title=Howrah Station is veritably the heartbeat of Kolkata |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/02/stories/2005120202711900.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012204402/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/02/stories/2005120202711900.htm |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=2009-01-02 |work=Business Line |publisher=The Hindu}}</ref> and completed by 1911.<ref name=":4" />


The new terminal complex was finished in 1992, creating a total of 19 platforms.<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" /> This was extended by a further 4 platforms in 2009.<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" />
In the 1980s, the station was expanded to 15 platforms.<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah">{{cite web |title=Howrah Station |url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,1689 |access-date=5 April 2019 |website=er.indianrailways.gov.in |publisher=Eastern Railway}}</ref> At the same time, a new ''Yatri Niwas'' (transit passenger facility) was built south of the original station frontage.


In October 2011, India's first double-decker train left Howrah for [[Dhanbad]].
The new terminal complex was finished in 1992, creating a total of 19 platforms.<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" /> This was extended by a further four platforms in 2009.<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" />


The first service of the Antyodaya Express started on 4 March 2017 between Ernakulam Junction and Howrah.
On 3 March 1969, the inaugural [[Rajdhani Express]] departed Howrah for [[New Delhi]].<ref name="2019-03-04-UNI">{{cite news |date=4 March 2019 |title=Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express Service completes glorious 50 yrs in passenger service |publisher=United News of India |url=http://www.uniindia.com/howrah-new-delhi-rajdhani-express-completes-glorious-50-yrs-in-passenger-service/india/news/1517981.html |access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="IR-ER-Howrah" /> In October 2011, India's first double-decker train, [[Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express]], left Howrah for [[Dhanbad]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-03 |title=First AC double-decker superfast train flagged off |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangladesh-myanmar-brace-up-for-cyclone-mahasen/first-ac-double-decker-superfast-train-flagged-off/photostory/10217498.cms |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> The first service of the [[Antyodaya Express]], the [[Howrah–Ernakulam Antyodaya Express]], was inaugurated in February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2017 |title=Antyodaya Express begins its journey from Ernakulam to Howrah |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/antyodaya-express-begins-its-journey-from-ernakulam-to-howrah/articleshow/57386404.cms |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
 
As per [https://igbc.in/igbc/redirectHtml.htm?redVal=showGreenRailwaysignin Indian Green Building Council]{{when|date=June 2023}}, it was awarded CII-IGBC Silver Rating becoming the first green railway station among [[Metropolitan cities of India|metropolitan cities]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Ayush |date=2018-05-01 |title=Howrah Station receives coveted CII-IGBC Silver Rating |url=https://www.iamrenew.com/environment/howrah-station-receives-coveted-cii-igbc-silver-rating/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability in India |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MP |first=Team |date=2018-04-15 |title=Howrah Station receives coveted CII-IGBC Silver Rating |url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/howrah-station-receives-coveted-cii-igbc-silver-rating-294552 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=www.millenniumpost.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Howrah is first to get green railway station award |url=https://www.eqmagpro.com/howrah-is-first-to-get-green-railway-station-award/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The Leading Solar Magazine In India |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
The book ''Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station'' by Eastern Railways was released in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mandal |first=Sanjay |date=21 November 2005 |title=Station blueprints restored - Documents to find place in museum |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/station-blueprints-restored-documents-to-find-place-in-museum/cid/1653404 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=The Telegraph India}}</ref> This was written to celebrate the centenary of the building.
 
=== Tram terminus, Howrah ===
Until 1992, there was a tram terminus at Howrah Station. Trams departed for [[Sealdah Station]], [[Rajabazar, Kolkata|Rajabazar]], [[Shyambazar]], [[Calcutta High Court|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.


===Heritage museum===
===Heritage museum===
The nearby [[Rail Museum, Howrah]] opened in 2006 contains a section dedicated to the heritage and history of Howrah railway station.<ref name="OneIndia20181124">{{Cite news|last=Gangopadhyay|first=Uttara|date=24 November 2018|title=Go Railfanning at This Little Known Museum in Howrah|newspaper=[[Outlook India]]|access-date=16 June 2020|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/69220/rail-museum-run-by-the-eastern-railway-in-howrah-will-give-you-nostalgia}}</ref>
The nearby [[Rail Museum, Howrah]] was opened in 2006, and contains a section dedicated to the heritage and history of Howrah railway station.<ref name="OneIndia20181124">{{Cite news|last=Gangopadhyay|first=Uttara|date=24 November 2018|title=Go Railfanning at This Little Known Museum in Howrah|newspaper=[[Outlook India]]|access-date=16 June 2020|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/69220/rail-museum-run-by-the-eastern-railway-in-howrah-will-give-you-nostalgia}}</ref> The railway museum, located south of the station, displays artefacts of historical importance related to the development of Eastern Railway. From 1909 to 1943 the ''[[Fairy Queen (locomotive)|Fairy Queen]]'', the world's oldest operational steam locomotive, was displayed on a plinth inside the station.<ref name="Ahrons, Faerie Queen">{{cite book |last=Ahrons |first=E. L. |title=The British Steam Railway Locomotive |publisher=Ian Allan |year=1966 |volume=I, to 1925 |pages=142 |ref=Ahrons, British Steam Railway Locomotive |author-link=E. L. Ahrons}}</ref>{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=111}}
 
== Major trains ==
Major trains that originates from Howrah Junction are as follows:
 
* [[Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express|Howrah - Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express]] (27575/27576)
* [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express]] (22301/22302)
* [[Howrah–Puri Vande Bharat Express]] (22895/22896)
* [[Howrah–Gaya Vande Bharat Express]] (22303/22304)
* [[Howrah–Rourkela Vande Bharat Express]] (20871/20872)
* [[Howrah–Jamalpur Vande Bharat Express]] (22309/22310)
* [[Ranchi–Howrah Vande Bharat Express|Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express]] (20897/20898)
* [[Patna–Howrah Vande Bharat Express|Howrah - Patna Vande Bharat Express]] (22347/22348)
* [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express]] (12041/12042)
* [[Howrah–Ranchi Shatabdi Express]] (12019/12020)
* [[Howrah–Puri Shatabdi Express]] (12277/12278)
* [[Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express]] (12245/12246)
* [[Howrah–New Delhi Duronto Express]] (12273/12274)
* [[Pune–Howrah Duronto Express|Howrah - Pune Duronto Express]] (12221/12222)
* [[Mumbai CSMT–Howrah Duronto Express|Howrah - Mumbai CSMT Duronto Express]] (12261/12262)
* [[Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Gaya)]] (12301/12302)
* [[Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Patna)]] (12305/12306)
* [[Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru AC Superfast Express]] (22863/22864)
* [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express|Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Superfast Express ]] (22309/22310)
* [[Howrah–Digha Super AC Express|Howrah - Digha AC Superfast Express]] (12847/12848)
* [[Howrah–Tirupati Humsafar Express]] (20889/20890)
* [[Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Humsafar Express]] (22887/22888)
* [[Howrah–Barbil Jan Shatabdi Express]] (12021/12022)
* [[Howrah–Patna Jan Shatabdi Express]] (12023/12024)
* [[Bhubaneswar–Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express|Howrah - Bhubaneswar Jan Shatabdi Express]] (12073/12074)
* [[Howrah–Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express]] (13065/13066)
* [[Shaktipunj Express|Howrah - Jabalpur Shaktipunj Express]] (11447/11448)
* [[Azad Hind Express|Howrah - Pune Azad Hind Express]] (12129/12130)
* [[Howrah–Gwalior Chambal Express]] (12175/12176)
* [[Howrah–Mathura Chambal Express]] (12177/12178)
* [[Poorva Express (via Patna)|Howrah - New Delhi Poorva Express (via Patna)]] (12303/12304)
* [[Howrah–Jodhpur Express]] (12307/12308)
* [[Netaji Express|Howrah - Kalka Netaji Express / Kalka Mail]] (12311/12312)
* [[Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Mail (via Gaya)]] (12321/12322)
* [[Howrah–Barmer Express]] (12323/12324)
* [[Upasana Express|Howrah - Dehradun Upasana Express]] (12327/12328)
* [[Himgiri Superfast Express|Howrah - Jammu Tawi Himgiri Superfast Express]] (12331/12332)
* [[Vibhuti Express|Howrah - Prayagraj Vibhuti Express]] (12333/12334)
* [[Shantiniketan Express|Howrah - Bolpur Shantiniketan Express]] (12337/12338)
* [[Coalfield Express|Howrah - Dhanbad Coalfield Express]] (12339/12340)
* [[Agnibina Express|Howrah - Asansol Agnibina Express]] (12341/12342)
* [[Saraighat Express|Howrah - Guwahati Saraighat Superfast Express]] (12345/12346)
* [[Sahid Express|Howrah - Rampurhat Sahid Express]] (12347/12348
* [[Howrah–Rajendra Nagar Express]] (12351/12352)
* [[Howrah–Lalkuan Express]] (12353/12354)
* [[Kumbh Express|Howrah - Dehradun Kumbh Express]] (12369/12370)
* [[Howrah–Jaisalmer Superfast Express]] (12371/12372)
* [[Poorva Express (via Gaya)|Howrah - New Delhi Poorva Express (via Gaya)]] (12381/12382)
* [[Tiruchirappalli–Howrah Superfast Express|Howrah - Tiruchirapalli Superfast Express]] (12663/12664)
* [[Howrah–Kanyakumari Express]] (12665/12666)
* [[Falaknuma Express|Howrah - Secunderabad Falaknuma Express]] (12703/12704)
* [[Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Mail (via Nagpur)]] (12809/12810)
* [[Steel Express|Howrah - Jamshedpur Steel Express]] (12813/12814)
* [[Dhauli Express|Howrah - Puri Dhauli Express]] (12821/12822)
* [[Howrah–Purulia Express]] (12827/12828)
* [[Howrah–Ahmedabad Superfast Express]] (12833/12834)
* [[Howrah–Puri Express]] (12837/12838)
* [[Howrah–Chennai Mail|Howrah - MGR Chennai Central Mail]] (12839/12840)
* [[Coromandel Express|Howrah - MGR Chennai Central Coromandel Express]] (12841/12842)
* [[Tamralipta Express|Howrah - Digha Tamralipta Express]] (12857/12858)
* [[Gitanjali Express|Howrah - Mumbai CSMT Gitanjali Express]] (12859/12560)
* [[Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Superfast Express]] (12863/128864)
* [[Howrah–Puducherry Express]] (12867/12868)
* [[Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Weekly Express]] (12869/12870)
* [[Rupashi Bangla Express|Howrah - Purulia Rupashi Bangla Express]] (12883/12884)
* [[Aranyak Express|Howrah - Bhojudih Aranyak Express]] (12885/12886)
* [[Garba Superfast Express|Howrah - Gandhidham Garba Superfast Express]] (12937/12938)
* [[Amritsar Mail|Howrah - Amritsar Mail]] (13006/13007)
* [[Doon Express|Howrah - Yog Nagari Rishikesh Doon Express]] (13009/13010)
* [[Howrah–Malda Town Intercity Express|Howrah–Malda Town Intercity Express (Via Rampurhat)]] (13011/13012)
* [[Howrah–Jamalpur Kavi Guru Express]] (13015/13016)
* [[Ganadevata Express|Howrah - Azimganj Ganadevata Express]] (13017/13018)
* [[Bagh Express|Howrah - Kathgodam Bagh Express]] (13019/13020)
* [[Mithila Express|Howrah - Raxaul Mithila Express]] (13021/13022)
* [[Howrah–Gaya Express]] (13023/13024)
* [[Howrah–Bhopal Weekly Express]] (13025/13026)
* [[Howrah–Azimganj Kavi Guru Express]] (13027/13028)
* [[Howrah–Mokama Express]] (13029/13030)
* [[Howrah–Vasco da Gama Amaravati Express]] (18047/18048)
* [[Howrah–Jaynagar Express]] (13031/13032)
* [[Howrah–Katihar Weekly Express]] (13033/13034)
* [[Howrah–Raxaul Express]] (13043/13044)
* [[Mayurakshi Express|Howrah - Deoghar Mayurakshi Express]] (13045/13036)
* [[Kulik Intercity Express|Howrah - Radhikapur Kulik Express]] (13053/13054)
* [[Howrah–Balurghat Bi-Weekly Express]] (13063/13064)
* [[Howrah–Jamalpur Express]] (13071/13072)
* [[Howrah - Sahibganj Intercity Express]] (13427/13428)
* [[Howrah–Malda Town Intercity Express (via Azimganj)]] (13465/13466)
* [[Howrah–Darbhanga Express]] (15235/15236)
* [[Howrah–Muzaffarpur Jan Sadharan Express]] (15271/15272)
* [[Kamrup Express|Howrah - Dibrugarh Kamrup Express (Via Guwahati)]] (15959/15960)
* [[Kamrup Express|Howrah - Dibrugarh Kamrup Express (Via Rangapara North)]] (15961/15962)
* [[Samaleshwari Express|Howrah - Jagdalpur Samaleshwari Express]] (18005/18006)
* [[Kriya Yoga Express|Howrah - Hatia Kriya Yoga Express]] (18615/18616)
* [[Howrah–Ranchi Intercity Express|Howrah–Ranchi Intercity Express (Via Adra)]] (18627/18628)
* [[Howrah–Jodhpur Express|Howrah–Bikaner Superfast Express]] (22307/22308)
* [[Hool Express|Howrah - Siuri Hool Express]] (22321/22322)
* [[Black Diamond Express|Howrah - Dhanbad Black Diamond Express]] (22387/22388)
* [[Howrah–Mysore Express]] (22817/22818)
* [[Howrah–Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam Express|Howrah–Yesvantpur Superfast Express]] (22831/2283)
* [[Howrah–Ernakulam Antyodaya Express]] (22877/22878)
* [[Howrah–Ranchi Intercity Express|Howrah–Ranchi Intercity Express (Via Tatanagar)]] (22891/22892)
* [[Sainagar Shirdi–Howrah Express|Howrah - Sainagar Shirdi Express]] (22894/22895)
* [[Kandari Express|Howrah - Digha Kandari Express]] (22897/22898)
* [[Shipra Express|Howrah - Indore Shipra Express]] (22911/22912)
* [[Howrah–Anand Vihar Yuva Express]] (12249/12250)
* [[Ispat Express|Howrah - Titlagarh Ispat Express]] (12871/12872)
* [[Ispat Express|Howrah - Kantabanji Ispat Express]] (22861/22862)
* [[Paharia Express|New Jalpaiguri - Digha Paharia Express (via Howrah)]] (15721/15722)
* [[Puri–Kamakhya Weekly Express (via Howrah)]] (15643/15644)
* [[Viswabharati Fast Passenger|Howrah - Rampurhat Viswabharati Fast Passenger]] (53047/53048)


==Rail services==
==Rail services==
{{see also|:Category:Trains from Howrah Junction railway station}}
{{see also|:Category:Trains from Howrah railway station}}
The [[Eastern Railway zone|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 [[Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line|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 [[diesel multiple unit|DMU]] trains; but now this line is also converted to [[broad gauge]] and used by [[electric multiple unit|EMU]] trains like all the other lines.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.anandabazar.com/district/bardhaman/katwa-burdwan-broad-gauge-trains-started-at-last-1.739229 |title = Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) | language= Bengali |work= Ananda Bazar Patrika|date=13 January 2018  | access-date = 13 January 2018}}</ref>
The [[Eastern Railway zone|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 [[Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line|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 [[diesel multiple unit|DMU]] trains; but now this line is also converted to [[broad gauge]] and used by [[electric multiple unit|EMU]] trains like all the other lines.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 January 2018 |title=Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) |trans-title='Big Rail' in Katwa, huge crowd |url=http://www.anandabazar.com/district/bardhaman/katwa-burdwan-broad-gauge-trains-started-at-last-1.739229 |access-date=13 January 2018 |work=Ananda Bazar Patrika |language=Bengali}}</ref>
 
The [[South Eastern Railway zone|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{{ndash}}Tikiapara link and the other is the Rajchandrapur{{ndash}}Dankuni-Mourigram link. They are used by goods trains and the [[Sealdah–Puri Duronto Express]] avoiding Howrah.
The [[South Eastern Railway zone|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]].[[File:Goods line crossing at Tpkr.jpg|thumb|Goods train line is crossing south eastern line near Tikiapara EMU carshed|171x171px]]The Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway sections are connected by two links. One is the Lilua{{ndash}}Tikiapara link (used only by goods train) and the other is the Rajchandrapur/Dankuni{{ndash}}Santragachhi/Andul link, which is used by goods trains and some express trains avoiding Howrah.


Four major rail routes end at Howrah. They are the Howrah–Delhi, Howrah–Mumbai, Howrah–Chennai and Howrah–[[Guwahati]] routes.
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.<ref name="2018-08-04-toi" />


==Station facilities==
==Station facilities==
The station is the divisional headquarters for the Eastern Railway.
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.
The station has 22 platforms. Platforms 1 to 15 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. Currently Platform No. 8 in "Terminal 1" is the longest in Howrah Station at {{convert|961|m|ft}}, followed by Platform No. 21 in "Terminal 2" which is {{convert|930.25|m|ft}} long & Current Platform No. 1 "Terminal 1" in which is {{convert|916|m|ft}} long. Work is going on at Platform No. 1 far end to link the {{convert|380|m|ft}} long Goods Train Platform under Bankim Setu, which is slated to be completed by 2025. Once completed Platform No. 1 of Howrah Station "Terminal 1" will measure a staggering {{convert|1296|m|ft}} in length & become the 3rd Longest railway Platform in India & in the World. Indian Railways are also constructing Platform No. 16 in "Terminal 1" and Platform No. 24 and 25 in "Terminal 2" as envisioned to expand this railway junction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5971905-3: Tender for construction of Platform no. - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/5971905/3#:~:text=Train%2018%20-%20%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20Livery%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%87&text=Extension%20of%20platform%20no%2015,will%20come%20up%20in%20future.&text=Extension%20of%20platform%20no.,1%20through%205%20at%20Sealdah.&text=5971905-0%20@Rail12345-,Tender%20for%20construction%20of%20Platform%20no.,24%20at%20Howrah%20station. |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref>


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.
There is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Free wifi is present at the station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nag |first=Devanjana |date=26 June 2019 |title=Indian Railways free high-speed WiFi at stations a hit! Over 2 crore users log in to the internet service |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/indian-railways-free-high-speed-wifi-at-stations-a-hit-over-2-crore-users-log-in-to-the-internet-service/1619479/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=Financial Express |publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Debashis |date=18 February 2020 |title=After Google quits, RailTel to continue with free Wi-Fi at Indian Railway stations |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/after-google-quits-railtel-to-continue-with-free-wi-fi-at-indian-railway-stations/articleshow/74184868.cms |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> 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.
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.railnews.in/new-visiting-time-for-howrah-rail-museum/|title=New visiting time for Howrah Rail Museum – RailNews Media India Ltd|website=railnews.in|access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/museum-hwh/|title=IRFCA – The Indian Railways Fan Club Photo Gallery – Howrah Railway Museum|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref>
Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas and Regional Rail Museum are a part of "Terminal 2" Howrah station complex.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2016 |title=New visiting time for Howrah Rail Museum |url=http://www.railnews.in/new-visiting-time-for-howrah-rail-museum/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514004325/http://www.railnews.in/new-visiting-time-for-howrah-rail-museum/ |archive-date=14 May 2018 |access-date=2018-03-02 |website=RailNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=The IRFCA Photo Gallery. Howrah Railway Museum |url=http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/museum-hwh/ |access-date=2018-03-02 |website=IRFCA – The Indian Railways Fan Club }}</ref>
 
==Diesel Loco Shed, Howrah==
{{Main|Electric Loco Shed, Howrah}}


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 (locomotive)|Fairy Queen]]'', the world's oldest operational steam locomotive, was displayed on a plinth inside the station.<ref name="Ahrons, Faerie Queen" >{{cite book  |title=The British Steam Railway Locomotive |last=Ahrons  |first=E. L. |author-link=E. L. Ahrons |volume=I, to 1925 |publisher=Ian Allan |year=1966 |ref=Ahrons, British Steam Railway Locomotive |pages=142 }}</ref>
[[File:Hwh electric loco shed.jpg|thumb|Electric loco shed at Howrah|129x129px]]
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 175+ [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]], [[WAP-5]], and [[WAP-7]] locomotives. The [[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]] car shed has over 15 parking slots. The station has a coach maintenance complex.
* '''Diesel Loco Shed, Howrah'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Serial No.
!Locomotive Class
!Horsepower
!Holding
|-
|1.
|[[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM-3A]]
|3100
|15
|-
|2.
|[[Indian locomotive class WDM-3D|WDM-3D]]
|3300
|16
|-
|3.
|[[Indian locomotive class WDP-4|WDP-4/4D]]
|4000/4500
|18
|-
|4.
|[[WAP-4]]
|5050
|38
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total Locomotives Active as of February 2026'''<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=e-Locos |url=http://elocos.railnet.gov.in/Holding/holding.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,541,710,717 |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Railway Board, Indian Railways}}</ref>
|87
|}


==Services for rolling stock==
== Connectivity ==
{{Main|Electric Loco Shed, Howrah}}
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+ [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]], [[WAP-5]], and [[WAP-7]] locomotives. The [[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]] car shed has over 15 parking slots. The station has a coach maintenance complex.


==Metro station==
=== Metro station ===
{{Further|Howrah metro station}}
{{Further|Howrah metro station}}
Howrah Station will also get an [[Howrah metro station|underground station]] as part of [[Kolkata Metro Line 2|Line 2]] of the [[Kolkata Metro]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/a-stn-comes-up-30m-below-howrah-stn/articleshow/70650925.cms|title=India's deepest Metro station comes up 30m below Howrah railway station}}</ref> It will be the deepest station on the [[Kolkata Metro Line 2|East-West Metro line]] of the Kolkata Metro<ref name="2018-08-04-toi" /><ref name="metrocalendar" /> and further the deepest in the country.<ref name="2019-08-19-FE-metro" /> The connecting metro stations will be [[Howrah Maidan metro station|Howrah Maidan]] to the west and [[Mahakaran metro station|Mahakaran]] to the east. The station is expected to open in 2021.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
Howrah station has an [[Howrah metro station|underground station]], which in turn, is a part of [[Green Line (Kolkata Metro)|Green Line]] of the [[Kolkata Metro]] serves the area.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Ajanta |date=13 August 2019 |title=India's deepest Metro station comes up 30m below Howrah railway station |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/a-stn-comes-up-30m-below-howrah-stn/articleshow/70650925.cms |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> It is the deepest station of the Kolkata Metro<ref name="2018-08-04-toi">{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Jayanta |title=Kolkata: Another station comes up below Howrah station |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-another-station-comes-up-below-howrah-station/articleshow/65267140.cms |access-date=5 April 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=4 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="metrocalendar">{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Jayanta |date=6 July 2017 |title=Metro prepares completion calendar for city projects |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/metro-prepares-completion-calendar-for-city-projects/articleshow/59463303.cms |access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref> and also the deepest in the country.<ref name="2019-08-19-FE-metro">{{cite news |last=Sinha |first=Debjit |date=19 August 2019 |title=Kolkata Metro's Howrah station by Indian Railways is India's deepest subway station! Check first look |work=The Financial Express |publisher=The Indian Express |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/kolkata-metros-howrah-station-by-indian-railways-is-indias-deepest-subway-station-check-first-look/1679259/ |access-date=8 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=hazarika |first=mrinmoyee |date=2023-01-03 |title=India to get its first underwater metro service this year |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/news/kolkata-metro-rail-underwater/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> To the east, the station connects to Mahakaran station in [[Kolkata]] through India's first under-river metro tunnel beneath the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly river]];<ref name="underwater">{{cite news |title=East-West Metro Underground Twin Tunnels, Kolkata, India - Railway Technology |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/east-west-metro-underground-twin-tunnels-kolkata/ |access-date=15 June 2021 |work=www.railway-technology.com |ref=The underground tunnel will cross the Hooghly river for approximately half a kilometre necessitating a 520m underwater section of the tunnel making the East-West Metro tunnel the first underwater tunnel in India.}}</ref><ref name="Confusion">{{Cite web |date=2017-05-05 |title=Kolkata Metro's TBM S639 Crosses Halfway Mark Under Hooghly |url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2017/05/05/kolkata-metros-tbm-s639-crosses-halfway-mark-under-hooghly/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Metro Rail Guy |language=en-US}}</ref> whilst to the west the adjacent station is [[Howrah Maidan metro station|Howrah Maidan]]. The station was opened to the public on 15th March 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-08 |title="PM Modi inaugurates India’s first under-river metro route in Kolkata!" |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/infrastructure-pm-modi-in-bengal-indias-first-under-river-metro-tunnel-in-kolkata-is-ready-for-inauguration-along-with-other-key-projects-heres-all-you-need-to-know-3414982/ |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]]}}</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Local train.png|EMU train bound for Howrah
File:Hwh closed ticket counter.jpg|Abandoned ticket counter inside the ferry subway
File:Hwh ferry terminus.jpg|Smooth interchange between train, taxi and ferry service
File:Hwh subway.jpg|Ferry terminus side entrance of subway
File:Howrah Station Terminal in 2011.jpg|Howrah station
File:Hwh ticket counter.jpg|General ticket counter at old building
File:Wooden ticket counter at Hwh.jpg|British Era wooden ticket counter is still active in old building
File:Hwh platform old building.jpg|Platform of Howrah Station
File:Hwh station decoration.jpg|Different icons of Kolkata & Howrah is being displayed by mosaic at waiting place
File:NG steam loco at Hwh.jpg|An abandoned narrow gauge steam loco is being displayed in front of old building
File:Howrah Bus Terminus - Howrah Railway Station Area - Howrah 2012-06-04 01303.jpg|Howrah station bus terminal
File:Howrah Bus Terminus - Howrah Railway Station Area - Howrah 2012-06-04 01303.jpg|Howrah station bus terminal
File:Howrah Station Terminal in 2011.jpg|Howrah station
File:Public buses near Howrah Railway Station.jpg|Public buses near Howrah railway station entrance
File:First locomotive india1854 photo1894.jpg|The first locomotive, shown on the right and christened "[[List of Latin phrases (M-O)|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, Hooghly|Pandua]].
File:Waiting Travellers - Howrah Railway Station - Howrah 20220429 150727.jpg|Waiting Travelers at Howrah Railway Station
File:Howrah YN.jpg|Yatri Nivas (Travellers' Lodge) at Howrah station
File:Howrah Metro Station.JPG|Howrah metro station  
File:Indian Rail Double Decker.JPG|Double decker train arrives at Howrah station after a trial run
File:Howrah 1.jpg|Evening View
File:Howrah Railway Station Area - Howrah 2012-06-04 01286.jpg|Howrah railway station area
File:Howrah Railway Station(HWH) India.jpg|Howrah station night view
File:Old steam loco outside Howrah Junction.jpg|Old steam locomotive at Howrah
File:ER & SER lines splitting at Hwh.jpg|Eastern & South Eastern lines are splitting
File:Old steam loco details.jpg|Old steam locomotive details
File:Remains of Shibpur tram line.jpg|Remains of Shibpur bound tram tracks under remains of Buckland bridge
File:Howrah Junction - Welcome.jpg|Howrah entrance
File:Howrah Junction - Platformboard.jpg|Howrah platform
</gallery>
</gallery>
[[File:Howrah Railway Station(HWH) India.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|Howrah station night view]]


==See also==
==See also==
Line 133: Line 329:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist
{{reflist}}
|refs=
 
<ref name="2019-04-04-mirror">{{cite news |last1=Pritchard |first1=Tim |title=The daily commute at Howrah Station is on a biblical scale as half a million passengers pour off trains |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/worlds-four-busiest-train-stations-14235935 |access-date=5 April 2019 |work=The Mirror|date=4 April 2019}}</ref>
=== Works cited ===
<ref name="2018-08-04-toi">{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Jayanta |title=Kolkata: Another station comes up below Howrah station |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-another-station-comes-up-below-howrah-station/articleshow/65267140.cms |access-date=5 April 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=4 August 2018}}</ref>
 
<ref name="metrocalendar">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/metro-prepares-completion-calendar-for-city-projects/articleshow/59463303.cms|title=Metro prepares completion calendar for city projects|work=The Times of India|access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>
* {{Cite book |last= Khosla |first=GS |title=A History of the Indian Railways |publisher=Ministry of Railways (Railways Board) and Y. P. Chopra of A H Wheeler & Co. |year=1988 |location=New Delhi |via=Internet Archive}}
<ref name="IR-ER-Howrah">{{cite web |title=Howrah Station |url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,1689 |website=er.indianrailways.gov.in |publisher=Eastern Railway |access-date=5 April 2019}}</ref>
 
<ref name="2019-08-19-FE-metro">{{cite news |title=Kolkata Metro's Howrah station by Indian Railways is India's deepest subway station! Check first look |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/kolkata-metros-howrah-station-by-indian-railways-is-indias-deepest-subway-station-check-first-look/1679259/ |access-date=8 December 2019 |work=The Financial Express |date=19 August 2019}}</ref>
== Further reading ==
<ref name="2019-10-27-telegraph-riot">{{cite news |title=Passengers run riot in Howrah |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/passengers-run-riot-in-howrah/cid/1714510 |access-date=4 January 2020 |publisher=The Telegraph India |date=27 October 2019}}</ref>
* {{Cite book |title=Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station |date=2005 |publisher=Eastern Railway |language=en}}
}}


{{commons category}}
==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Howrah railway station}}


{{Howrah}}
{{Howrah}}
{{Kolkata topics}}
{{Kolkata topics}}
{{Top 100 booking stations of Indian Railways}}
{{Railway stations in West Bengal}}
{{Railway stations in West Bengal}}
{{Kolkata Suburban Railway, Eastern}}
{{Kolkata Suburban Railway, Eastern}}
{{Kolkata Suburban Railway, South Eastern}}
{{Kolkata Suburban Railway, South Eastern}}
{{Kolkata Metro}}
{{Rapid transit in India}}
{{Rapid transit in Asia}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah railway station}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah railway station}}
[[Category:Howrah railway division]]
[[Category:Howrah railway division]]
[[Category:Kolkata Metro stations]]
[[Category:Kolkata Suburban Railway stations]]
[[Category:Kolkata Suburban Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened in 1854]]
[[Category:Railway junction stations in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1854]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Howrah district]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Howrah district]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Kolkata]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 20 April 2026


For the underground railway station, see Howrah metro station.
"HWH" redirects here. For the station in England, see Haltwhistle railway station.

Howrah
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Howrah Station Eastern (top) and South Eastern (bottom) Railway Complex, West Bengal
LocationLower Foreshore Rd, Howrah, West Bengal 711101
 India
Coordinates22°34′58″N 88°20′34″E / 22.5829°N 88.3428°E / 22.5829; 88.3428
Elevation12 metres (39 ft)
Owned byIndian Railways
Operated byEastern Railway South Eastern Railway
Line(s)
Platforms23 platforms
Length– 650–700 m (2,130–2,300 ft)
  • Old Complex
    • Fully/Partially Operational: 1–15
    • Under Construction: 16
  • New Complex
    • Fully Operational: 17–23
    • Under Construction: 24
Tracks25
ConnectionsTemplate:Ric Howrah
Bus interchange Howrah Bus Depot
ferry/water interchange Howrah Ferry Ghat
Construction
Structure typeAt grade
ParkingAvailable Parking
Bicycle facilitiesAvailable Bicycle facilities
Other information
StatusActive
Station codeHWH
Zone(s) Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway
Division(s) Howrah
Kharagpur
History
Opened1854; 172 years ago (1854)
Electrified1954; 72 years ago (1954)[1]
Previous namesEast Indian Railway Company
Passengers
1.8Million/Day (Increase high)
Services
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Location
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Howrah railway station (also known as Howrah Junction) is a railway station located in the city of Howrah, of Kolkata Metropolitan Area, West Bengal, India.[6] It is the largest and busiest railway complex in India,[7][8][9] as well as one of the busiest and largest train stations in the world.[10][11] It is also the oldest surviving railway complex in India. Howrah is one of the large intercity railway stations serving the Kolkata metropolitan area, the others being Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar, Dankuni and Kolkata station.

The first public train from the station was on 15 August 1854, on what is now the Howrah – Hooghly Main Line.[12] At present[when?], about 600 passenger trains pass through the station, serving more than 1 million passengers a day.[13][14][12] Utilising its 22 operational platforms, the station handles a total of 252 Mail/Express trains and 500 suburban EMU trains daily;[15] ten of the platforms are long enough to cater to trains with more than 24 coaches.[16] Goods and parcel trains also originate and terminate here.[16] The Howrah–Barddhaman main line is the busiest line that connects this station.[17]

History[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Old view of Howrah railway station
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Present view of Howrah railway station

In 1849, a contract was signed between the East Indian Railway Company and East India Company and an initial amount allocated for the first section between Howrah and Raneegunge (Raniganj) via Pandooah (Pandua, Hooghly) and Burdwan (Bardhaman).[18] Frederick Walter Simms, the consulting engineer to Government of India, initially envisaged a station on the right side of Hooghly in 1846. However, after the funds were sanctioned, Howrah was chosen as the terminus for the new line.[19] A bridge spanning 1,700 feet (520 m) across the Hooghly River was considered unfeasible at the time.[20] In the following years, discussions frequently arose about connecting the rail line to Calcutta.[20]

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. Unaware of the future significance of railways in India, the government decided against purchasing the land and expensive waterfront required for the project in January 1852. Turnbull then developed alternative development plans that estimated the cost at 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.[21][22] The size of the construction project - of whether Howrah should be a large station or Howrah be a smaller station in favour of a larger station being developed at another time - was debated from time to time during this process.[23] Eventually land was bought.[23]

The first experimental locomotive left Howrah on 18 June 1853[citation needed] for the 37.5 miles to Pandoah.[21][22] There was a gap between laying the line and opening it up since the ship carrying the carriages sank while the locomotive ended up in Australia. Eventually the carriages were built locally and the locomotive was directed to Calcutta.[24] The first public departure from Howrah for the 23.5 miles to Hooghly was on 15 August 1854.[25] During this period, the station was located at what is now the office of the divisional railway manager of Howrah.[26] It consisted of one line and platform, a ticket window and a supporting building.[12] Two weeks later the line to Pundoah was opened.[25] In the first 4 months, over 109,000 passengers used the service.[25] The locomotive was of the same type as the Fairy Queen.[27]

Indians on their way to European colonies in the early 1800s came through the Howrah Station.[28]

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.[29] The Bengal-Nagpur Railway was extended to Howrah in 1900, thus making Howrah an important railway centre.[30] So in 1901, a new station building was proposed. The British architect Halsey Ricardo designed the new station.[30] It was opened to the public on 1 December 1905,[30][31] and completed by 1911.[26]

In the 1980s, the station was expanded to 15 platforms.[32] At the same time, a new Yatri Niwas (transit passenger facility) was built south of the original station frontage.

The new terminal complex was finished in 1992, creating a total of 19 platforms.[32] This was extended by a further four platforms in 2009.[32]

On 3 March 1969, the inaugural Rajdhani Express departed Howrah for New Delhi.[33][32] In October 2011, India's first double-decker train, Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express, left Howrah for Dhanbad.[34] The first service of the Antyodaya Express, the Howrah–Ernakulam Antyodaya Express, was inaugurated in February 2017.[35]

As per Indian Green Building Council[when?], it was awarded CII-IGBC Silver Rating becoming the first green railway station among metropolitan cities in India.[36][37][38]

The book Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station by Eastern Railways was released in 2005.[39] This was written to celebrate the centenary of the building.

Tram terminus, Howrah[edit | edit source]

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.

Heritage museum[edit | edit source]

The nearby Rail Museum, Howrah was opened in 2006, and contains a section dedicated to the heritage and history of Howrah railway station.[40] The railway museum, located south of the station, displays artefacts of historical importance related to the development of Eastern Railway. From 1909 to 1943 the Fairy Queen, the world's oldest operational steam locomotive, was displayed on a plinth inside the station.[41][27]

Major trains[edit | edit source]

Major trains that originates from Howrah Junction are as follows:

Rail services[edit | edit source]

See also: Category:Trains from Howrah railway station

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.[42]

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.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Goods train line is crossing south eastern line near Tikiapara EMU carshed

The Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway sections are connected by two links. One is the Lilua–Tikiapara link (used only by goods train) and the other is the Rajchandrapur/Dankuni–Santragachhi/Andul link, which is used by goods trains and some express trains avoiding Howrah.

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

Station facilities[edit | edit source]

The station is the divisional headquarters for the Eastern Railway.

The station has 22 platforms. Platforms 1 to 15 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. Currently Platform No. 8 in "Terminal 1" is the longest in Howrah Station at 961 metres (3,153 ft), followed by Platform No. 21 in "Terminal 2" which is 930.25 metres (3,052.0 ft) long & Current Platform No. 1 "Terminal 1" in which is 916 metres (3,005 ft) long. Work is going on at Platform No. 1 far end to link the 380 metres (1,250 ft) long Goods Train Platform under Bankim Setu, which is slated to be completed by 2025. Once completed Platform No. 1 of Howrah Station "Terminal 1" will measure a staggering 1,296 metres (4,252 ft) in length & become the 3rd Longest railway Platform in India & in the World. Indian Railways are also constructing Platform No. 16 in "Terminal 1" and Platform No. 24 and 25 in "Terminal 2" as envisioned to expand this railway junction.[43]

There is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Free wifi is present at the station.[44][45] 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.[46][47]

Diesel Loco Shed, Howrah[edit | edit source]

Main article: Electric Loco Shed, Howrah
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Electric loco shed at Howrah

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 175+ WAP-4, WAP-5, and WAP-7 locomotives. The EMU car shed has over 15 parking slots. The station has a coach maintenance complex.

  • Diesel Loco Shed, Howrah
Serial No. Locomotive Class Horsepower Holding
1. WDM-3A 3100 15
2. WDM-3D 3300 16
3. WDP-4/4D 4000/4500 18
4. WAP-4 5050 38
Total Locomotives Active as of February 2026[48][49] 87

Connectivity[edit | edit source]

Metro station[edit | edit source]

Further information: Howrah metro station

Howrah station has an underground station, which in turn, is a part of Green Line of the Kolkata Metro serves the area.[50] It is the deepest station of the Kolkata Metro[51][52] and also the deepest in the country.[53][54] To the east, the station connects to Mahakaran station in Kolkata through India's first under-river metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly river;[55][56] whilst to the west the adjacent station is Howrah Maidan. The station was opened to the public on 15th March 2024.[57]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Electric Traction – I". IRFCA. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Google Maps
  3. ↑ Kharagpur-Howrah Local 38606 Indiarailinfo
  4. ↑ Howrah-Haldia Local 68689 ⇒ 38089 Indiarailinfo
  5. ↑ Santragachi-Digha EMU 78001 ⇒ 68687 Indiarailinfo
  6. ↑ "Howrah JN (HWH) railway station". NDTV Rail Beeps. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. ↑ অযান্ত্রিক (18 November 2015). "Howrah Railway Junction Station, Howrah, 1854 –". puronokolkata. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ten busiest railway stations of India". EducationWorld. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Most Busiest Railway Stations of India". erail.in. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "7 of the Busiest Train Stations in the World". WorldAtlas. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Pritchard, Tim (4 April 2019). "Imagine sharing a commute through one station with half a million people". mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Howrah Division. Historical Perspective - The First Journey. Brief Details". Indian Railways Portal. Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Passengers run riot in Howrah". The Telegraph India. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  14. ↑ Thakur, Joydeep (12 May 2020). "Buzz back at India's busiest station after nearly 2 months". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Indian Railways Portal". er.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor Generalof India on Augmentation of Station Line Capacity on selected stations in Indian Railways for the year ended March 2017 (PDF), Union Government (Railways), 2018, pp. 50–52
  17. ↑ Mondal, Bhaswati; Samanta, Gopa (2021). Mobilities in India: The Experience of Suburban Rail Commuting. Springer Nature. p. 22. ISBN 978-3-030-78350-1.
  18. ↑ Andrew, Sir William Patrick (1884). Indian Railways as Connected with British Empire in the East. W.H. Allen & Company. p. 229.
  19. ↑ Davidson, Edward (1868). The Railways of India: With an Account of Their Rise, Progress, and Construction. E. & F. N. Spon. pp. 135, 136.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Khosla 1988, p. 47.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Diaries of George Turnbull (Chief Engineer, East Indian Railway Company) held at the Centre of South Asian Studies at Cambridge University, England
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 George Turnbull, C. E . pages 110, 121, 122, 125 and 127 of the 437-page memoirs published privately 1893, scanned copy held in the British Library, London on compact disk since 2007
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Khosla 1988, p. 48.
  24. ↑ Khosla 1988, p. 86.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Huddleston, George (1906). History of the East Indian Railway. Thacker, Spink and Company. p. 14.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Mitra, Debraj (7 August 2022). "East-West Metro work unearths '19th-century' track near upcoming Howrah station". My Kolkata. The Telegraph India Online. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Khosla 1988, p. 111.
  28. ↑ Hill, Arthur H. (September 1919). "Emigration from India". Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana. 6: 50–51 – via Internet Archive.
  29. ↑ Ghosh, Amrita (8 March 2013). "A bridge over Roopnarayan". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Sen, Swagata (19 December 2005). "Howrah station centenary celebrations: A tribute to the history it has witnessed". India Today. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  31. ↑ "Howrah Station is veritably the heartbeat of Kolkata". Business Line. The Hindu. 2 December 2005. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 "Howrah Station". er.indianrailways.gov.in. Eastern Railway. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  33. ↑ "Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express Service completes glorious 50 yrs in passenger service". United News of India. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  34. ↑ "First AC double-decker superfast train flagged off". The Times of India. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  35. ↑ "Antyodaya Express begins its journey from Ernakulam to Howrah". The Times of India. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  36. ↑ Verma, Ayush (1 May 2018). "Howrah Station receives coveted CII-IGBC Silver Rating". Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability in India. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  37. ↑ MP, Team (15 April 2018). "Howrah Station receives coveted CII-IGBC Silver Rating". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  38. ↑ "Howrah is first to get green railway station award". The Leading Solar Magazine In India. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  39. ↑ Mandal, Sanjay (21 November 2005). "Station blueprints restored - Documents to find place in museum". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  40. ↑ Gangopadhyay, Uttara (24 November 2018). "Go Railfanning at This Little Known Museum in Howrah". Outlook India. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  41. ↑ Ahrons, E. L. (1966). The British Steam Railway Locomotive. Vol. I, to 1925. Ian Allan. p. 142.
  42. ↑ "Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers)" ['Big Rail' in Katwa, huge crowd]. Ananda Bazar Patrika (in Bengali). 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  43. ↑ "5971905-3: Tender for construction of Platform no. - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  44. ↑ Nag, Devanjana (26 June 2019). "Indian Railways free high-speed WiFi at stations a hit! Over 2 crore users log in to the internet service". Financial Express. The Indian Express. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  45. ↑ Sarkar, Debashis (18 February 2020). "After Google quits, RailTel to continue with free Wi-Fi at Indian Railway stations". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  46. ↑ "New visiting time for Howrah Rail Museum". RailNews. 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  47. ↑ "The IRFCA Photo Gallery. Howrah Railway Museum". IRFCA – The Indian Railways Fan Club. 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  48. ↑ "e-Locos".
  49. ↑ "Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)". Railway Board, Indian Railways. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  50. ↑ Chakraborty, Ajanta (13 August 2019). "India's deepest Metro station comes up 30m below Howrah railway station". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  51. ↑ Gupta, Jayanta (4 August 2018). "Kolkata: Another station comes up below Howrah station". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  52. ↑ Gupta, Jayanta (6 July 2017). "Metro prepares completion calendar for city projects". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  53. ↑ Sinha, Debjit (19 August 2019). "Kolkata Metro's Howrah station by Indian Railways is India's deepest subway station! Check first look". The Financial Express. The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  54. ↑ hazarika, mrinmoyee (3 January 2023). "India to get its first underwater metro service this year". Railway Technology. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  55. ↑ "East-West Metro Underground Twin Tunnels, Kolkata, India - Railway Technology". www.railway-technology.com. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  56. ↑ "Kolkata Metro's TBM S639 Crosses Halfway Mark Under Hooghly". The Metro Rail Guy. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  57. ↑ ""PM Modi inaugurates India's first under-river metro route in Kolkata!"". Financial Express. 8 March 2024.

Works cited[edit | edit source]

  • Khosla, GS (1988). A History of the Indian Railways. New Delhi: Ministry of Railways (Railways Board) and Y. P. Chopra of A H Wheeler & Co. – via Internet Archive.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station. Eastern Railway. 2005.

External links[edit | edit source]

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