The Largest Railway Station in India in terms of number of platforms and area is Howrah Junction, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Railways Ministry holds responsibility for managing the entire railway network in India. India has a huge number of railway stations that connect to the fourth-largest train network in the world in terms of total size. Current data given by the Railway Ministry indicates that the track length of these lines is 1,50,368 kilometres.
Here, In this article we will explore the top 10 largest railway stations in India, highlighting their unique features and contributions to India’s transportation network.
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The largest railway station in India in terms of area and platforms is Howrah Junction (station code: HWH), located in Howrah, West Bengal. It boasts an extensive network of 23 platforms and 26 tracks, handling over 600 trains daily and catering to approximately 10 lakh passengers.
Established in 1854, Howrah Junction has a rich history and serves as a crucial transportation hub, connecting Kolkata to various parts of India and neighboring countries.
List of Top 10 Largest Railway Stations in India
Here is the list of the largest railway stations in India:
- Howrah Junction Railway Station
- Sealdah Railway Station
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- Chennai Central Railway Station
- New Delhi Railway Station
- Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station
- Kharagpur Junction Railway Station
- Kanpur Central Railway Station
- Allahabad/Prayagraj Railway Station
- Vijayawada Junction Railway Station
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1. Largest Railway Station in India: Howrah Junction Railway Station
Howrah Junction Railway Station
- Opened: 1854
- Station code: HWH
- Location: Howrah, West Bengal
- No. of platforms: 23
- Daily crowd : 1 million+
- Connectivity: It is connected to all major cities in India by rail.
- Local Attractions: Howrah Bridge, Princep Ghat, Belur Math, etc.
The Howrah Railway Station, situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, is among the busiest and oldest railway stations in India. It acts as an important intersection for transportation, linking different regions of India.
The station is renowned for its architectural beauty, historical significance, and crucial role in joining eastern India to the rest of the railway system.
2. Second Largest Railway Station in India: Sealdah Railway Station
Sealdah Railway Station
- Address: Sealdah, Raja Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Station code: SDAH
- Number of platforms: 21
- Average crowd/day: Over 1.2 million
- Connectivity: Sealdah is a major railway terminal in Kolkata, and is connected to all major cities in India. It is also served by the Kolkata Metro.
- Local attractions: Howrah Bridge, the Victoria Memorial, and the Indian Museum.
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It is another important train station that serves the city is Sealdah. It is a significant hub for transportation, known for both its significance in history and its accessibility. The station is essential to making travel within the area easier.
It serves as a significant suburban rail hub as well as a metro stop on West Bengal’s Kolkata Metro Line 2. When it is finished, Kolkata Metro Line 2 will go via Sealdah.
3. Third Largest Railway Station in India: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- Opened: 1887
- Station code: CSMT
- Location: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
- Number of platforms: 18
- Average crowd/day: 700,000
- Connectivity: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is connected to all major cities in India by rail and air. It is also served by the Mumbai Metro.
- Local attractions: Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Colaba Causeway, Elephanta Caves and Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
Mumbai, Maharashtra is home to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a historic railway station that was formerly known as Victoria Terminus. Renowned for its striking Gothic style of architecture.
UNESCO decided in 2004 that it was an important place in the world’s history and declared it as world heritage site. As the corporate office for the Central Railway of India, it is one of the busiest rail stations on the Western line.
4. Fourth Largest Railway Station in India: Chennai Central Railway Station
Chennai Central Railway Station
- Opened: 1873
- Station code: MAS
- Location: Kannappar Thidal, Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Number of platforms: 22 (17 for main line trains and 5 for suburban trains)
- Average crowd/day: 350,000
- Connectivity: Chennai Central Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Chennai Metro and the Chennai Suburban Railway.
- Local attractions: Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Government Museum, Chennai Fort St. George and Valluvar Kottam.
The station’s structure is a well-known landmark in Chennai. It links Tamil Nadu with the northern portion of India, which incorporates Kolkata, Modern Delhi, and Mumbai.
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5. New Delhi Railway Station
New Delhi Railway Station
- Opened: 1956
- Station code: NDLS
- Location: Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj, New Delhi, Delhi 110006, India
- Number of platforms: 16
- Average crowd/day: 500,000
- Connectivity: New Delhi Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Delhi Metro and the Delhi Airport Express Line.
- Local attractions: India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and Jama Masjid.
It serves as the primary hub for the Rajdhani Express. The “World’s Largest Route Relay Interlocking System” that this railway station features, which earned it the Guinness World Record, is comparable to those of other significant Indian railway stations in terms of facilities. It has been classified as NSG-1 station which means it is earning more than
Old Delhi Railway Station was the previous name of the New Delhi Station. From New Delhi Railway Station, most trains heading east and south depart. Additionally, it is linked to the Delhi Metro system.
6. Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station
Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station
- Opened: 2020
- Station code: ADI
- Location: Kalupur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- Number of platforms: 12
- Average crowd/day: 300,000
- Connectivity: New Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Ahmedabad Metro and the Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System.
- Local attractions: Sabarmati Ashram, Akshardham Temple, Kankaria Lake, Calico Museum of Textiles and Adalaj Stepwell.
Ahmedabad Junction is one of India’s busiest railway stations and the largest train station in Gujarat. It serves as Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s primary rail hub. 12 platforms and 16 tracks are present. The division of Western Railways that generates the most revenue is Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station.
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It has connections to several important Indian cities. This station is for trains that go from the south to the east of India. It offers connections to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Howrah, and other significant Indian cities.
7. Kharagpur Junction Railway Station
Kharagpur Junction Railway Station
- Opened: 2009
- Station code: NKP
- Location: Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal 721301, India
- Number of platforms: 7
- Average crowd/day: 50,000
- Connectivity: New Kharagpur Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Kharagpur Airport and the Kharagpur Bus Terminus.
- Local attractions: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur Science Centre, Kharagpur Botanical Garden, Kharagpur Zoo and Midnapore Fort.
Kharagpur Junction railway station (KGP) is an A-1 grade station for the Indian Railways. There are 12 platforms and 24 tracks. The Gateway to South Eastern Railway station, popularly known as Kharagpur Junction, offers convenient access to all major Indian cities.
Kharagpur Railway Station has the third-longest railway platform in the world, measuring 1,072.5 meters in length.
It is declared as A1 category Station by Indian Railways.
8. Kanpur Central Railway Station
Kanpur Central Station
- Opened: 1930
- Station code: CNB
- Location: Nawabganj, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208002, India
- Number of platforms: 10
- Average crowd/day: 200,000
- Connectivity: Kanpur Central Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Kanpur Airport and the Kanpur Bus Terminal.
- Local attractions: Kanpur Zoological Park, Kanpur Memorial Church, Nana Rao Park, Phool Bagh, Jajmau Fort, Allen Forest Zoo, Moti Jheel, Shri Radhakrishna Temple and ISKCON Temple Kanpur.
Kanpur Central Railway Station is the name of the city’s primary train station in Uttar Pradesh.
Originally called the Cawnpore North Barracks station it’s one of India’s busiest train hubs. With 10 platforms and 14 tracks, it can accommodate more than 2.3 million commuters each day. During the voyage, all of the major trains, including the Tejas, Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Shatabdi, make a brief stop here.
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9. Allahabad Railway Station or Prayagraj Junction Station
- Opened: 1876 Station code: ALD
- Location: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Number of platforms: 12
- Average crowd/day: 150,000
- Connectivity: Allahabad Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Allahabad Airport and the Allahabad Bus Terminal.
- Local Attractions: Triveni Sangam, Hanuman Mandir, Anand Bhavan, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, Khusro Bagh and Allahabad Fort
The Prayagraj district contains the Allahabad Junction Railway station, making it a significant rail hub in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. 10 platforms and 16 tracks are present.
It’s a part of the North Central Railway zone and sees daily use from more than 50,000 passengers.
In February 2020, the station’s name was changed from Allahabad Junction to Prayagraj Junction by the state government.
10. Vijayawada Junction Railway Station
Vijayawada Junction Railway Station
- Opened: 1888
- Station code: BZA
- Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Number of platforms: 10
- Average crowd/day: 200,000
- Connectivity: Vijayawada Junction Railway Station is connected to all major cities in India by rail. It is also served by the Vijayawada Airport and the Vijayawada Bus Terminal.
- Local Attractions: Kanaka Durga Temple, Undavalli Caves, Prakasam Barrage, Bhavani Island, Victoria Jubilee Museum or Bapu Museum, Kondapalli Fort, Gandhi Hill and ISKCON Vijayawada.
As a division of Southern Railway, it was founded on May 16, 1956. The main line of New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai is opened by the Vijayawada railway station, making travel easier. The station has 10 platforms and 16 tracks.
It is recognized as one of the busiest railway stops in all of India with 1.6 lakh people and more than 300 trains passing through this junction each day.
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Largest Railway Station in India – FAQs
1. Which is the Largest Railway Station in India in Terms of Platforms?
Howrah Junction (HWH) is the largest station in the whole of India in terms of platforms. It has 23 platforms. With 23 railroad tracks, it handles almost 280 trains per day. With around a million passengers using it every day for transportation, it is also one of the busiest stations in the whole country.
2. Which Railway Station has the World’s Longest Railway Platform?
The longest railway station in the world is located in Karnataka and is called Hubli. It is run by the South Western Railways’ Hubli division and is also referred to as Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji – Hubballi Junction. At 1,505 meters, Platform 1 of the Hubli station is the world’s longest railway platform.
3. Which is the Second Longest Platform in India?
The second-longest platform, spanning 1,366.33 meters, is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Gorakhpur. The third-longest platform, measuring 1,180.5 meters, is located at Kollam Junction in Kerala.
4. Which is the Second Largest Railway Station in India?
The Sealdah Railway Station, Kolkata, West Bengal, is India’s 2nd largest railway station in India. It’s a significant suburban train station. Sealdah can be reached by the recently constructed underground Sealdah metro station on Kolkata Metro Line 2.
5. Is Howrah Junction and Howrah Railway Station Same?
Yes, the Howrah Railway Station, which is situated in the Indian state of West Bengal, is sometimes referred to as Howrah Junction or simply Howrah Station.