Rail transport in India consists of primarily of passenger and freight shipments along an integrated rail network. Indian Railways (IR), a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India, operates India's national railway system. It is the primary owner and operator of rail operations throughout the country including suburban rail in major metros.
Indian Railways is a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India that operates India's national railway system. As of 2023, it manages the fourth largest national railway system by size with a track length of 132,310 km (82,210 mi), running track length of 106,493 km (66,172 mi) and route length of 68,584 km (42,616 mi). As of August 2024, 96.59% of the broad-gauge network is electrified. With more than 1.2 million employees, it is the world's ninth-largest employer and India's second largest employer.
Howrah is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively Howrah lies within Howrah district and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision; it is also part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area. Howrah is an important industrial and transportation hub, and is also a gateway to Kolkata via Howrah railway station and Howrah Bridge.
Howrah railway station is a railway station located in the city of Howrah, West Bengal at Kolkata metropolitan region,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 Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Kolkata and the Kolkata Metropolitan Region in West Bengal, India. Opened in 1984, it was the first operational rapid transit system in India. As of October 2024, it has four operational lines: the 32.13 km (19.96 mi) long Line 1 from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash, 14.1 km (8.8 mi) long Line 2 from Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan, 7.75 km (4.82 mi) long Line 3 from Joka to Majerhat and 5.4 km (3.4 mi) long Line 6 from Kavi Subhash to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay for a total of 59.38 km (36.90 mi). Two other lines named Line 4 and Line 5 are in various phases of construction and planning. The system has a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated stations using both broad-gauge and standard-gauge tracks. It operates on a 750 V DC Third rail system. Trains operate between 06:50 and 22:40 IST and the fares range from ₹5 to ₹50.
The Fairy Queen, also known as the East Indian Railway No. 22, is a steam locomotive which was built in 1855. It was restored by Loco Works Perambur, Chennai in 1997, and housed at the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum.
The Kolkata Suburban Railway is a suburban and regional rail system serving the Kolkata metropolitan area and its surroundings in West Bengal, India. It's network has 458 stations and a track length of 1,501 km (933 mi) making it the largest suburban railway network in the country, and also one of the largest in the world. There are five main lines and nineteen branch lines. It operates more than 1,500 services, carrying 3.5 million people daily and 1.2 billion people every year. It runs from IST 03:00 am until 02:00 am approximately and fares range from Rs.5 to Rs.25. The system is electrified with 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line and runs on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge track. It has interchange stations with the Kolkata Metro at various locations.
Kolkata the Capital of the Indian state of West Bengal has a good transportation system. Kolkata's transport system is diverse, with a mix of modern and traditional modes of transport catering to the city's large population.
Burn Standard Company Limited (BSCL) is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India. Headquartered in Howrah, India, BSCL is engaged mainly in railway wagon manufacturing under the Ministry of Railways. On 4 April 2018, Cabinet approves closure of loss making Burn Standard Company Limited. The company was formed with the merger of two companies – Burn & Company and Indian Standard Wagon, and was nationalised in 1975. In fiscal 2006, the company reported aggregated revenues of ₹1,373 million (US$16 million). Subsequently, the company with its two engineering units at Howrah and Burnpur came under the administrative control of Ministry of Railways in September 2010. The refractory unit at Salem, Tamil Nadu, was transferred to Steel Authority of India Limited.
Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2023, it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily. According to the Ministry of Railways, a route capable of supporting trains operating at more than 160 km/h (100 mph) is considered as a higher speed or semi-high speed rail line.
Line 2 is a rapid transit metro line of the Kolkata Metro in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It currently consists of two distinctly operational sections from Salt Lake Sector-V to Sealdah, and Esplanade to Howrah Maidan by going underneath the Hooghly River. A future eastern extension from Sector-V to Teghoria is planned. It will cover a distance of 22 km (14 mi) and consist of 17 stations from Teghoria (Haldiram) in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west, of which it will consist of 11 elevated and 6 underground stations, and the operational section consists of 6 elevated and 6 underground stations, with a total distance of 13.1 km (8.1 mi). It is expected to derive a very high ridership, since it will connect India's two largest commuter railway and long-distance railway terminals, Howrah and Sealdah, along with two of its largest business districts, BBD Bagh and Salt Lake Sector V. At present, more than 100,000 passengers commute through the line every day, and this figure is expected to go up to 1 million after it gets fully completed by 2035. It will also connect the industrial hub of Kolkata, i.e., Howrah and the IT hub of Kolkata, i.e., Salt Lake Sector-V. It connects Line 1 at Esplanade and will eventually connect Lines 3 and 6.
The Sahibganj loop is a railway line connecting Khana Junction and Kiul Junction. Originally a part of the Howrah–Delhi main line, it was opened to traffic in 1866. With the construction of a shorter railway line for a part of the route, the 403.8 kilometres (250.9 mi) stretch was assigned a separate identity.
Dankuni Junction is a railway junction on the Howrah–Bardhaman chord and is located in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station is linked with both Howrah and Sealdah.
Seoraphuli Junction railway station is a Kolkata Suburban Railway station on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It serves Sheoraphuli area & northern part of the Serampore City. The Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line meets Howrah–Bardhaman main line at Sheoraphuli.
Naihati Junction is a Kolkata Suburban Railway junction station on the Sealdah–Ranaghat line and Naihati–Bandel link. It is located in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It serves Naihati and the surrounding areas.
Bhagalpur Junction railway station, is an A-1 category railway station serving the city of Bhagalpur in the Bhagalpur district of Indian state of Bihar. It comes under jurisdiction of Malda Railway Division of Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways. Bhagalpur Railway Station is among the 148 important stations that have been selected for redevelopment with world-class infrastructure having an airport like look. Ministry of Railways has approved its master plan for redevelopment at a cost of 481.60 crores and tender is in process. A new Bhagalpur station will also be built near the bypass at a cost of 200 crores.
Howrah metro station is a metro station of Kolkata Metro Line 2 in Howrah, India. Built underneath Howrah railway station's new and old complex, the metro station allows interchanging with other zones of Indian Railways as part of the Howrah station transport hub. It is the deepest metro station in India. To the east, the station connects to Mahakaran station in Kolkata through India's biggest under-river metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly river; whilst to the west the adjacent station is Howrah Maidan.
East West Metro Tunnel is an underwater river tunnel of Kolkata Metro in Kolkata, West Bengal. The river tunnel is constructed underneath Hooghly River. It is the biggest underwater river tunnel of India, which is made for metro rail service. The East West Metro Tunnel length is 10.8 km (6.7 mi) and width is 5.5 metres. A 520 m stretch of the tracks goes through a tunnel under the Hooghly River. The roof of the tunnel is about 30 metres from the ground level. The tunnel was completed in 2021. The tunnel is used by East West Metro Line for metro rail service by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation and it was constructed by Afcons Infrastructure.
Electric Loco Shed, Howrah is a motive power depot performing locomotive maintenance and repair facility for electric locomotives of the Indian Railways, located at Howrah of the Eastern Railway zone in West Bengal, India. It is one of the two electric locomotive sheds of the Eastern Railway, the others being at Asansol (ASN). As of 1 July 2020 there are 150 locomotives in the shed.
Electric Loco Shed, Asansol is a motive power depot performing locomotive maintenance and repair facility for electric locomotives of the Indian Railways, located at Asansol of the Eastern Railway zone in West Bengal, India. It is one of the two electric locomotive sheds of the Eastern Railway, the others being at Howrah (HWH). As of November,2022, there are 142 locomotives in the shed.
