Howrah railway station

Howrah
Indian Railways and Kolkata Suburban Railway station
Howrah Station Eastern (top) and South Eastern (bottom) Railway Complex, West Bengal
General information
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
Line(s)
Platforms25
  • Old Complex
    • Fully/Partially Operational: 1-15
    • Under Construction: 16
  • New Complex
    • Fully Operational: 17-23
    • Under Construction: 24
    • Planned: 25
Tracks25
Connections Green Line Howrah
Howrah Bus Depot
Howrah Ferry Ghat
Construction
Structure typeAt grade
ParkingAvailable
Bicycle facilitiesAvailable
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusActive
Station codeHWH
Zone(s) Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway
Division(s) Howrah
Kharagpur
History
Opened1854 (1854)
Electrified1954 (1954)
Previous namesEast Indian Railway Company
Passengers
1.8Million/Day ( high)
Services
Preceding station Kolkata Suburban Railway Following station
Terminus Eastern Line Liluah
Tikiapara
towards Midnapore
South Eastern Line Terminus
Location

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. It is the largest and busiest railway complex in India, as well as one of the busiest and largest train stations in the world. It is also the oldest surviving railway complex in India. Howrah is one of the five large intercity railway stations serving the Kolkata metropolitan area, the others being Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar and Kolkata railway station.

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