Howrah railway station

{{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 Indian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox station | name = Howrah | type = Indian Railways Kolkata Suburban Railway | native_name_lang = bn | symbol = s | symbol_location = Kolkata | style = Kolkata Suburban Railway | 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 = India | coordinates = {{coord|22.5829|88.3428|type:railwaystation_region:IN|display=inline,title}} | elevation = {{cvt|12|m}} | owned = Indian Railways | operator = Eastern Railway South Eastern Railway | line = {{Plainlist| * Howrah–Delhi main line * Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line * Howrah–Chennai main line * Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line * Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line * Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line * Grand Chord }} | platform = 23, {{cvt|650-700|m}} long Old Complex: {{Unbulleted list|{{Tree list}} ** Fully/Partially Operational: 1–15 ** Under Construction: 16 {{Tree list/end}}}} New Complex: {{Unbulleted list|{{Tree list}} ** Fully Operational: 17–23 ** Under Construction: 24 {{Tree list/end}}}} | tracks = 25 | connections = {{Plainlist| * {{rint|Kolkata|ewm}} {{metro|Howrah}} * {{rint|bus}} Howrah Bus Depot * {{rint|ferry}} Howrah Ferry Ghat }} | structure = At grade | parking = {{rint|parking}} | bicycle = {{rint|bicycle}} | status = Active | accessible = Yes {{rint|wheelchair}} | code = {{Indian railway code | code = HWH | zone = Eastern Railway South Eastern Railway | division = {{rwd|Howrah}} {{rwd|Kharagpur}} }} | opened = {{start date and age|1854}} | rebuilt = | electrified = {{Start date|1957|12|14}}<ref name="CORE_Inauguration">{{cite web |url=https://core.indianrailways.gov.in/works/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,294,302,531 |title=Important Landmarks of Indian Railways Electrification |publisher=Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Ministry of Railways |access-date=2026-05-27}}</ref> (3 kV DC) 1968<ref name="CORE_History">{{cite web |url=https://core.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,294,302,530 |title=History of Railway Electrification |publisher=Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Ministry of Railways |access-date=2026-05-27}}</ref> (converted to 25 kV AC) | former = East Indian Railway Company | passengers = 1.8 million/day | pass_system = {{increase}} high | pass_year = | pass_percent = | services = {{Adjacent stations | system = Kolkata Suburban Railway | line = Eastern |left= |right=Liluah |to-right=Bandel Junction |type=Main line & Chord line | line2 = South Eastern |left2=Tikiapara |right2= |to-left2=Midnapore |type2=Main line }} | services_collapsible = yes | route_map = | map_state = collapsed | map_type = India Kolkata#India 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|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 busiest and 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}} 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 station.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}

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 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>

==History== {{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 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}}

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.<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}}

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 Pandoah.<ref name=":5">Diaries of 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 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 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.{{Sfn|Khosla|1988|p=111}}''

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>

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" />

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.

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" />

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 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, 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=== 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'', 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}}

==Rail services== {{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.<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, 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.thumb|Goods train line is crossing south eastern line near Tikiapara EMU carshed|171x171pxThe 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}

Four major rail routes end at Howrah. They are the Howrah–Delhi, Howrah–Mumbai, Howrah–Chennai and Howrah–Guwahati routes.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}

==Station facilities== 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 {{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. 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.

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>

==Services for rolling stock== {{Main|Electric Loco Shed, Howrah}}

thumb|Electric loco shed at Howrah|129x129px 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}

===Diesel Loco Shed=== The station has a diesel-locomotive shed with room for 84 locomotives.{{citation needed|date=May 2026}}

{| class="wikitable" !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 |- | 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 |}

== Connectivity ==

=== Metro station === {{Further|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.<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;<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. 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=Financial Express}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> 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:Public buses near Howrah Railway Station.jpg|Public buses near Howrah railway station entrance File:Waiting Travellers - Howrah Railway Station - Howrah 20220429 150727.jpg|Waiting Travelers at Howrah Railway Station File:Howrah Metro Station.JPG|Howrah metro station File:Howrah 1.jpg|Evening View File:Howrah Railway Station(HWH) India.jpg|Howrah station night view File:ER & SER lines splitting at Hwh.jpg|Eastern & South Eastern lines are splitting File:Remains of Shibpur tram line.jpg|Remains of Shibpur bound tram tracks under remains of Buckland bridge </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===

* {{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}}

== Further reading == * {{Cite book |title=Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station |date=2005 |publisher=Eastern Railway |language=en}}

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

{{Howrah}} {{Kolkata topics}} {{Railway stations in West Bengal}} {{Kolkata Suburban Railway, Eastern}} {{Kolkata Suburban Railway, South Eastern}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah railway station}} Category:Howrah railway division Category:Kolkata Suburban Railway stations 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 Kolkata Category:Tourist attractions in Howrah Category:Rail transport in Howrah Category:Railway terminus in India Category:Indian Railway A1 Category Stations Category:1854 establishments in India