Railway transportation is an important mode of the conveyance of people and goods in India. Indian Railways (IR) is the primary operator of rail operations throughout the country, a state-owned organisation of the Ministry of Railways, which historically had its own government budget. Between 2019 and 2020, 22.15 million passengers used the Indian Railways network daily. In the same period, 3.32 million metric tons of freight was also shipped daily on the IR network.
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth-largest railway network in the world by size, with a route length of 67,956 km (42,226 mi) as of 31 March 2020. 45,881 km (28,509 mi) or 71% of all the broad-gauge routes are electrified with 25 kV 50 Hz AC electric traction as of 1 April 2021.
Howrah is the second-largest city after Kolkata 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 it lies within Howrah district, and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision. It is a part of the area covered by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Howrah is an important transportation hub and gateway to Kolkata and West Bengal.
Howrah railway station, also known as Howrah Junction, is a railway station located in the city of Howrah, West Bengal, India. It is the oldest and largest existing railway complex in India. It is one of the busiest train stations in the world. About 600 passenger trains pass through the station each day, utilising its 23 platforms, and serving more than one million passengers per day. Howrah is one of five intercity train stations serving the Kolkata metropolitan area, the others being Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar and Kolkata railway stations.
Sealdah is one of India's major railway terminal serving the city of Kolkata. The other main railway stations in the Kolkata metropolitan region are Howrah, Shalimar, Kolkata and Santragachi. Sealdah is one of the busiest railway stations in India and also the second largest railway station in India after Howrah located in the same city of Kolkata with a daily passenger footfall of over 1.2 million. It also acts as an important suburban rail terminal. After completion, Kolkata Metro Line 2 will pass through Sealdah.
The Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. As of February 2021, it has two operational lines, a 31.36 km (19.49 mi) line from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash and a 7.205 km (4.477 mi) line from Salt Lake Sector V to Phoolbagan, for a total of 38.565 km (23.963 mi). Four other lines are in various phases of construction. The system has a mix of underground, at-grade and elevated stations using both broad-gauge and standard-gauge tracks. Trains operate between 05:45 and 21:55 IST and the fares range from ₹5 to ₹30. Due to covid-19 pandemic, tickets cannot be purchased with cash. A metro smart card is essential for buying tickets.
The Fairy Queen, also known as the East Indian Railway Nr. 22, is a steam locomotive built in 1855, restored by Loco Works Perambur, Chennai in 1997, and housed at the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum. It occasionally runs between New Delhi and Alwar. In 1998 it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest steam locomotive in regular service. The Fairy Queen runs on the same route as the Palace on Wheels, the tourist train launched in 1982, and in 1999 was awarded a National Tourism Award.
The Kolkata Suburban Railway is a suburban rail system serving the Kolkata metropolitan area and its surroundings in India.It is the largest suburban railway network in the country with highest number of stations.It is also the 7th largest Suburban rail system in the world. There are six main lines and nineteen branch lines. The suburban railway operates more than 1,500 services, carrying 3.5 million people daily and 1.2 billion people every year. It runs from 03:00 am until 02:00 am and the fares range from ₹5 (6.6¢ US) to ₹35 (46¢ US). The system uses 25 kV 50 Hz AC power supply and runs on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge track. It also has interchange stations with the Kolkata Metro at various locations.
The transport system of Kolkata is a mix of modern mass rapid transport and old transport modalities like rickshaws. Kolkata is connected to the rest of India by the National Highways, the extensive network of the Indian Railways, and by air. Most traffic to Northeast India route via Kolkata.
Santragachi Junction railway station is a railway junction in South Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways,Situated in Santragachhi, Howrah, India. It is one of five intercity railway stations serving Howrah and Kolkata. The station is operated by Indian Railways South Eastern Railway (SER) zone. SER serves local trains to Amta, Mecheda, Panskura, Haldia, Kharagpur and Medinipur and mail/express trains to Central, West and South India.
Kolkata Metro Line 2 is a rapid transit line of the Kolkata Metro in the Indian state of West Bengal. It currently consists of an operational section between Salt Lake and Phoolbagan, and will eventually connect Teghoria with Howrah by going underneath the Hooghly River. It would consist of 17 stations from Teghoria (Haldiram) in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west, of which 11 would be elevated and 6 would be underground, with a total distance of 22 km. It is expected to derive a very high ridership since it will connect India's two largest commuter railway and long-distance railway terminals along with two of its largest business districts. Line 2 has India's first underwater metro tunnel along with the deepest metro shaft. The first phase between Salt Lake Sector V and Salt Lake Stadium was inaugurated by Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on 13 February 2020 and commercial services started from 14 February 2020.
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.
The 12377 / 12378 Padatik Superfast Express is a daily Superfast train which runs between Sealdah in West Bengal and New Alipurduar in West Bengal via New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) in West Bengal.
Bardhaman Junction Railway Station is a railway junction station on the Howrah–Delhi main line and is located in Purba Bardhaman District in the Indian state of West Bengal. EMU services from Howrah along Howrah–Bardhaman main line and Howrah–Bardhaman chord terminate at Bardhaman. It serves Bardhaman, the third most populous city in West Bengal.
Sheoraphuli Junction is a Kolkata Suburban Railway station on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line and is located 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 a railway station serving the city of Bhagalpur in the Bhagalpur district in the Indian state of Bihar.
Howrah metro station is a railway station of Kolkata Metro Line 2 in Howrah, India. Built underneath Howrah railway station's new 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 first under-river metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly river; whilst to the west the adjacent station is Howrah Maidan. The station is expected to open in 2022.
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 1 July 2020, there are 167 locomotives in the shed.
