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Indian Railway Map

Indian Railway Map

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Indian Railways (IR) is called the lifeline of the country. It transports passengers and freight to all corners of India. Thus, it plays an important role in the economic development of the country, especially by supporting industry and agriculture.

IR is one of the busiest and largest rail networks in the world. Only USA, China and Russia do better. It ferries around 23 million passengers every day on around 9000 passenger trains. It is also the world’s largest utility employer with strength of 1.4 million employees. It carts 2 million tons of freight daily and covers a route of over 63,000 km and 7000 stations.

The IR dates back two centuries. The first railway line was set up in 1851 to transfer material for construction to Roorkee. But the first passenger train was chugged off from Bombay to Thane in 1854. It covered a route of 21 miles and heralded the IR network in India.

The IR network is crucial in binding together persons from all classes, castes, ethnicity, religion and regions of the country. It holds together the social and economic fabric of the country. Connecting all four corners- North, South, East and West, it is instrumental in ensuring the political unity of the country.

The IR system is managed directly by the Government of India with a separate department of the Ministry of Railways.  Because of the gargantuan size of the country, Indian Railways is divided into 16 zones that make its administration simpler.

The following are the main railways zones along with their headquarters:

  • East Central Zone: Hajipur
  • Central Zone: Mumbai
  • East Coast Zone: Bhubaneswar
  • North Central Zone: Allahabad
  • Eastern Zone: Kolkata
  • North Eastern Zone: Gorakhpur
  • Northeast Frontier Zone: Guwahati
  • North Western Zone: Jaipur
  • Northern Zone: Delhi
  • South East Central Zone: Bilaspur
  • South Central Zone: Secunderabad
  • South Eastern Zone: Kolkata
  • Southern Zone: Chennai
  • South Western Zone: Hubli
  • Western Zone: Mumbai
  • West Central Zone: Jabalpur
  • Konkan zone: Belapur Mumbai

 Each zone is divided into divisions and there are 68 divisions in total. Each of the zones is helmed by a General Manager, who reports to the Railway board. The divisions are controlled by division managers. Below them are the station masters who lord over stations and train movement.

To get an idea of the IR network, one requires a railway map of India. Several websites offer the service of providing map of Indian railway. One of the best sites is Mapsofindia.com. It provides an Indian railways train map which reveals the IR network across the country indicating different zones like Eastern Railway, Central Railway, etc.

Another website http://indiatrain.atlas-map.com also provides a comprehensive map of the Indian railways network. It indicates details like trunk routes, routes undergoing gauge conversion, international routes, etc. It highlights especially major trains, capitals of states, divisional headquarters and railway zone headquarters. Indian railway map of India provided by this site is useful for one and all.

Indian Railways uses four gauges: The 1,435 mm standard gauge; the 1,676 mm broad gauge, two narrow gauges, 762 mm and 610 mm and the 1,000 mm meter gauge. Track sections are counted for speeds that range from 75 to 160 km/h. The main gauge of the IR is the Broad gauge.

The types of trains of the IR are Duronto Express, Rajdhani Express, AC express, Shatabdi express, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi express, Intercity super fast mail, Fast passenger, Suburban trains and Metro.

Indian Railways has many classes of travel with the basic distinction between air-conditioned (AC) and non AC types. The following are the list of classes (but all trains may not have all classes);

  • First class AC: The most expensive class where fares may be equal to that of flights. It has attendants to help passengers. Sleeper berths are very spacious. Coaches are carpeted and have personal coupes. This coach is available on the meter gauge and broad gauge trains.

  • 2 tier AC: These AC coaches have sleeping berths featuring 8 bays. Curtains for privacy are provided.

  • First Class: It is top class but without AC. Berths are spacious, but no bedding will be provided. This class is rare to find except on hills station railways.

  • AC 3 TIER: AC coaches with 64 berths in each. Berths are arranged in 3 tiers. There are no curtains or reading lights and this coach is available only in broad gauge.

  • AC 3 tier (economy): AC coaches having sleeping berths found in Garib Rath trains. They are less well appointed than AC 3-tier with no curtains, reading lights or bedding.

  • AC chair car: An AC seater coach with five seats in a row used for commuting between cities.

  • Executive class chair car: Found only in Shatabdi express, it features 4 seats in a row with AC and spacious legroom.

  • Sleeper coach: Most common on IR trains. Regular sleeping coaches with 3-tier facility and carries 72 passengers in broad gauge.

  • Seater class: Seats without AC and have reserved/ unreserved facility.

  • Unreserved: The least expensive, it features wooden berths in most or cushioned berths in new trains. These overcrowded trains do not have any guarantee of seat availability.

Indian railways map of India is useful for getting information about types and routes of trains. Information on trains must include what kind of classes are available. This is useful for the tourism sector.

The government provides a map of IR network at the site http://www.indianrail.gov.in/.  It also provides the IR Atlas, which gives information on rail routes, train schedules, station index and other figures and facts about IR in 48 pages with Maps.

The maps of Indian Railways help to plan your journey, minimizing time and effort.

Running Train Status

Train Running Status

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Indian Railways is our nation’s lifeline and the third biggest rail network in the world. It ferries over 30 million passengers daily on over 10,000 passenger trains across the country and serves over 7500 railway stations.

The task of running a network on time and with accuracy and efficiency is a gargantuan and complex one. In spite of this, the Indian Railways has been making constant efforts to reach all information regarding its trains conveniently, efficiently and accurately to every passenger travelling on any one of its trains.

The oldest and most common method of imparting train related information is through the enquiry help line for Running Train Timetable. The phone numbers for train enquiry helpline are 139, 1330, 131, 1336, 1332, etc.

But phone enquiries for train information have become a thing of the past. People no longer ring up 139 and its sister numbers for getting information on updated status of trains, departure and arrival timings of trains, train schedules, delay in trains, etc. The main frustration with the traditional help lines is that at most times, all these lines are busy being flooded with calls and people do not like to deal with the heavy traffic on these lines.

Now, the question comes, which concerns most of us: How to check the current train running status in India? The answer to this problem is no longer negative. Nowadays, there is provision for online checking of train status.

The main agency to check train running status India is the Indian Railways website. Online facility for Indian Railways train running status has made things easier and simpler for train passengers throughout India.

Most passengers use the Railways timetable service on the Indian Railways website, which helps in tracking trains across the country. The ‘enhanced national train enquiry system’ made available by the Indian Railways has garnered a National Award for providing a useful service of Indian Railways train running status enquiry for passengers.

Online services are also provided by websites like www.trainenquiry.com, www.indianrail.gov.in, www. erail.in, indiarailinfo.com, www.irctc.co.in, www.travelkhana.com, etc. Here is how some of these sites operate:

www.trainenquiry.com: It provides a ‘spot your train’ service. Enter train number, journey/ boarding/ arrival station and journey / boarding/ arrival date. You will get a comprehensive feedback on queried station, expected departure, current position, last updated station and expected departure. It also gets ‘live station update’: enter name of stations to get the name of trains, the time limit, types of trains, etc. Another service is finding ‘Train Schedule’: enter train number to get station, day, scheduled arrival, scheduled departure and distance (km) between stops. For ‘trains rescheduled’, provide train number and start date and you will get a list of rescheduled trains, including train name, train number, train type, source and  destination.

You can also get train information using a Smartphone. The website www.trainenquiry.com is compatible with all smart phones and you can ascertain train running status using this website on your Smartphone.

Etrain.info: One must enter details like train name or train number to get route and running status. Give station name to track arrival and departure at stations.

IRCTC site: Train running status is useful information especially for planning a journey by train. Nowadays, passengers can go online to track the live progress of train running status. The IRCTC running trains status will help in this regard. Log on to irctc.co.in. Enter the destination (to and fro). It will reveal all trains on that route. Choose a particular train and get details. The site also indicates the last two stations crossed by the train and the next two stops, as well as arrival time at theses stops.

Travelkhana.com: In addition to the business of train food delivery, this online company has introduced a special feature like ‘track your train’ in addition to several others like ticket booking etc. It works in the following way: At the top, there is a box for entering train name or train number. Proceed now to a drop down menu where you can select your station. You must now indicate whether you want arrival time or departure time. You will get railway running status online and position of the train on map. Auto tracking of train movement is also possible. You can use this service not only on the train, but also on the platform. This service is useful for those waiting to meet others on the train as they can judge the right time to wait.

For information on trains or to place orders for food, one can log on to www.travelkhana.com. Else you can call the company’s helpline- 0-8800-31-31-31, which is available from 7 am to 10 pm. It does not charge extra for booking or for delivery of food. With our cutting edge website, one can track the movement of the train accurately. You need to provide station name, train number, and code as well as PNR number for a quick alert on the current Indian railway running status online. Note that running stations are updated regularly so you need to key in details every time you want an update.

 SIMRAN (Satellite Imaging for Rail Navigation): It is a technology to track the train running status through satellites and was developed by the Indian Railways along with I.I.T. Kanpur. Live status will be provided by 139 helpline number, SMS and website of the railways.

These are some of the means by which very rail traveller can keep tabs on the trains of the Indian railways.

Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Allahabad

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Indian Railways is among one of the world’s widest rail networks with over 36,500 miles of railway and is connected through a vast network of around 8000 thousand railway stations which carry tonnes of goods and millions of people to their destinations every day. Indian Railways is an enterprise owned by the government of India and is operated through the Ministry of Railways.

Allahabad is a major district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in North India and is famous for its rivers and its Mahakumbh. The three major rivers of India – Ganges, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati meet here in Allahabad. The point at which these three rivers meet is called Sangam and holds a holy place in Hindu religion.

Allahabad Railway Station

Allahabad railway station is situated in the city of Allahabad in the Allahabad district and has an elevation of 316 m above the sea level. It is one of the major stations on the Howrah-Delhi line and Howrah-Allahabad-Mumbai lines. Allahabad station has many important trains passing through it and every train that is coming from east and is going to south has to pass this station.

The Allahabad railway station is one of the oldest railway stations of Indian railways and was constructed in mid-nineteenth century by the East India Company during the construction of Howrah-Mughalsarai Line. The first train that ran from Allahabad station was between Kanpur and Allahabad station in 1859. The first train that ran from Howrah to Delhi and passed Allahabad station was in 1864. Before the construction of Naini Bridge in 1865, the coaches used to be ferried in boats across Yamuna. The Allahabad was not linked with the regions beyond Ganges in the past, but with the construction of Curzon Bridge in 1903, all those regions were accessible from Allahabad through railways.

Around thirteen trains originate from this station for other parts of the country and around thirty trains have Allahabad as a major stoppage in their route.  Allahabad is among top hundred booking stations of Indian railways. There are two main entrances for the station that are city side to the south and civil lines side to the north. During the time of Mahakumbh, railway administration makes special arrangements of security and other amenities to handle such a huge number of people visiting the city in that short period of time.

When it comes to amenities provided at the Allahabad railway station, it has 9 double bedded Non AC retiring rooms, 3 double bedded Air conditioned retiring rooms and a 20 bedded dormitory.

There are many famous restaurants near the Allahabad junction railway station where you can enjoy delicious food and refreshment during your journey or on your arrival to Allahabad. Some of the famous restaurants near Allahabad railway station are:

  • Travelkhana – 08800313131

Prayag Railway station

Parayag railway station (PRG) is located at the Prayag Ghat, the meeting point of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati. The Prayag railway station is at a distance of six kilometres from Allahabad junction and hosts local trains and passenger trains coming to and from Allahabad junction to Prayag. This railway station has unreserved ticket counter and three platforms, but it does not have the facility of a reservation counter.

Rambagh City station

Allahabad city railway station or Rambagh city station is situated in the city of Allahabad and host thousands of passengers every day. Bengal and North Western Railway constructed the Varanasi-Allahabad City (Rambagh) line as a metre gauge line from 1899-1913 and was converted to broad gauge in the year 1993-94.The Rambagh city station has self reservation counter, which was started in the year 2013 and is very helpful for people in reservation of tickets.

To enjoy great food near Rambagh Railway station, you can go to Shri Krishna Shakahari Bhojanalaya, 184/A, Bai Ka Bagh, which serves great food and beverages.

Daraganj Railway station

Daraganj is another major suburb of Allahabad and is a landmark of this city. Daraganj railway station is located at a distance of 5 Km from Allahabad junction and is a major railway station for local trains and passenger trains. Parayag Ghat railway station also comes under Daraganj suburbs.

 

Railway Station, Railway Stations

Overview of Amritsar Railway Station – ASR

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The importance of Indian Railways in the life of Indians can be judged by the fact that every day around 24 million people travel through Indian railways and thousands of tonnes of freight are carried by the Indian railways to various parts of the country. Railway in India was started by East India Company in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. After that, the network of Indian railways spread rapidly to all the parts of the country and present day vast network of railway is the result of that rapid development of Indian Railways.

Amritsar or Ramdaspur (Historical name) is a major city of Punjab state in Northern India. The main attraction of this city is Harminder Sahib or commonly known as Golden Temple. It is a highly revered pilgrimage and cultural centre for Sikhs. Golden Temple hosts more than 100000 visitors’ every day and is one of the most preferred destinations for NRI visitors in India. This city is also the centre for Sikh political and temporal authority, the Akal Takht and Sikh Parliament.

Amritsar Railway Station –

Amritsar railway station is the foremost railway station of Amritsar city and has an elevation of 233 m above the sea level. Amritsar railway station connects the Amritsar city to the rest of the country with trains either originating or terminating at this station. Apart from Shatabadi, superfast, express, and passengers trains, a special train named Samjhota Express also runs from this station all the way to Lahore city in Pakistan across the border. The last Indian station that this train crosses is the Attari station at Wagah border. The Multan-Amritsar-Lahore railway line was completed in 1865 and is one of the oldest railway lines of Indian railway network.

Government of India has also proposed to run a high-speed railway line connecting Delhi to Amritsar, which will reduce the travelling time between two cities to two and a half hours, which is five hours at present. The trains on that corridor are expected to be running at the speed of 160KM/h, which is the second highest than Bhopal Shatabdi express.

The distance of railways station from golden temple is 3.2 Km and the Jalianwala Bagh is situated at a distance of 3.6 Km from the Amritsar railway station. Wagah border is at a distance of 25 Km from the railway station and the palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is at a distance of 4.4 Km from here.

Facilities at Railway Station –

The Amritsar railway station is equipped with amenities like computerised reservation centres, tourist information centre, retiring rooms, waiting rooms, vegetarian and non-vegetarian refreshment rooms, bookstall, telephone booths and General Railway Police Post.

Restaurants near Railway Station –

Amritsar is famous for its rich culture and vibrant cuisine and you can enjoy the richness of the food of Amritsar by visiting the restaurants near the railway station of Amritsar.

  • Joginder ka Dhaba (Opposite Railway Station) where you can enjoy tasty Naan and Palak mutton.
  • Kulcha Land near Amritsar junction. The Amritsari Kulchas of this place are very famous among people visiting this city.
  • Kesar da Dhaba at a distance of 3 Km from Amritsar junction. It is famous for its pure vegetarian Punjabi food cooked in pure ghee.

Food Delicacies of Amritsar –

When it comes to famous foods of Amritsar, there is a lot to discover regarding cuisine when you are in Amritsar. Here is a list of some of the most famous dishes of Amritsar.

  • Amritsari Kulcha– It is a version of Indian Flatbread filled with tasty fillings and is popular in north India and especially Punjab state.

  • Amritsari Fish– This is a must try dish for every Non-vegetarian visiting this city. Prepared with a coating of Grams, curd, and ginger garlic paste, it is a mouth-watering dish for every visitor.

  • Lassi– This is a healthy and refreshing Indian drink made from curd, sugar and some light herbs. It can refresh your senses in no time.

  • Sarson Da Saag and Makki di Roti– One of the most famous foods of Punjab and Amritsar, the Saag is prepared with mustard greens along with spinach leaves and the chapatti is prepared from corn flour and is an appetising dish served in most of the restaurants in the city.

Trains Passing through Amritsar Railway Station (ASR)  –

Train No.Train NameArr. TimeDep. Time
NED JAT SPL
22:00
22:30
Mumbai LTT – Amritsar (Pathankot) Express
16:30
destination
Amritsar – Mumbai LTT (Pathankot) Express
origin
08:30
New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express
22:45
destination
Amritsar – New Delhi Shatabdi Express
origin
05:00
New Delhi – Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi Express
13:40
destination
Amritsar – New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express
origin
16:50
New Delhi – Amritsar Shatabdi Express
13:40
destination
Amritsar – New Delhi Shatabdi Express
origin
16:50
Haridwar – Amritsar Jan Shatabdi Express
22:05
destination
Amritsar – Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express
origin
06:55
Saharsa – Amritsar Garib Rath Express
21:00
destination
Amritsar – Saharsa Garib Rath Express
origin
04:20
CDG ASR DURONTO(CDG-ASR)
21:25
destination
ASR CDG DURONTO(ASR-CDG)
origin
05:15
Akal Takht Express
17:20
destination
Akal Takht Express
origin
05:55
Durgiana SF Express
17:20
destination
Durgiana SF Express
origin
05:55
Jallianwalabagh Express
19:45
destination
Jallianwalabagh Express
origin
10:55
New Jalpaiguri Amritsar Karmabhoomi Express(NJP-ASR)
17:25
destination
Amritsar New Jalpaiguri Karmabhoomi Express(ASR-NJP)
origin
09:30
Amritsar – Chandigarh Intercity Express
origin
17:30
NED ASR SUP EXP
22:05
destination
ASR NED SF EXP
origin
14:30
New Delhi-Amritsar SF InterCity
21:45
destination
Amritsar-New Delhi Intercity Express
origin
06:15
Kochuveli-Amritsar Superfast Express
23:55
destination
Amritsar-Kochuveli Superfast Express
origin
05:55
Shan-e-Punjab Express
14:20
destination
Shan-e-Punjab Express
origin
15:10
Sachkhand SF Express
20:20
destination
Sachkhand SF Express
origin
05:35
Golden Temple Mail
05:45
destination
Golden Temple Mail
origin
21:25
Paschim Express
19:20
destination
Paschim Express
origin
08:10
Howrah – Amritsar (Punjab) Mail
08:55
destination
Amritsar – Howrah (Punjab) Mail
origin
18:45
Howrah-Amritsar Express
10:15
destination
Amritsar-Howrah Express
origin
18:10
Delhi-Pathankot Express
15:20
15:40
Pathankot Delhi Express
09:05
09:30
ASR CNB EXPRESS
origin
12:35
Saharsa-Amritsar Jan Sadharan Express (UnReserved)
02:55
destination
JANSADHARAN EXP.
origin
13:15
GARIB RATH EXP
14:45
destination
ASR-LKU GARIBRATH
origin
05:55
Dehradun – Amritsar (Lahori) Express
07:30
destination
Amritsar – Dehradun (Lahori) Express
origin
22:15
RAVI EXPRESS
origin
09:15
RAVI EXPRESS
16:40
destination
Saryu Yamuna Express
23:30
destination
Saryu Yamuna Express
origin
11:55
Shaheed Express
23:30
destination
Shaheed Express
origin
11:55
SHC-ASR JANSEWA EXP
17:00
destination
ASR-SHC JANSEWA EXP
origin
06:35
DBG-ASR JANNAYAK EXP
01:50
destination
ASR- DBG JANNAYAK EXP
origin
19:05
Amrapali Express
12:45
destination
Amrapali Express
origin
07:15
Dibrugarh – Amritsar Weekly Express
21:00
destination
Amritsar-Dibrugarh Weekly Express
origin
15:50
Tatanagar-Jammu Tawi MURI Express
07:50
08:20
Jammu Tawi -Tatanagar MURI Express
19:10
19:35
Jallianwalabagh Express
06:30
destination
Jallianwalabagh Express
origin
12:35
ROU MURI JAT EXPRESS(ROU-JAT)
07:50
08:20
Jammu Tawi – Rourkela MURI Express
19:10
19:35
DURG JAT EXPRES
15:20
15:40
JAT DURG EXP
10:30
10:55
Chhattisgarh Express
08:10
destination
Chhattisgarh Express
origin
16:15
Hirakud (Hirakund) Express
23:55
destination
Hirakud (Hirakund) Express
origin
23:45
Bathinda – Jammu Tawi Express
00:50
01:10
Jammu Tawi – Bathinda Express
01:55
02:15
Indore – Amritsar Express
21:00
destination
Amritsar-Indore Bi Weekly Express
origin
23:15
Ajmer – Amritsar Express (via Firozpur)
14:45
destination
Amritsar – Ajmer Express (via Firozpur)
origin
14:30
AJMER ASR EXP
10:40
destination
Amritsar – Ajmer Express (via Dhuri)
origin
17:50
Amritsar Express(JP-ASR)
14:45
destination
Amritsar Express(JP-ASR)
10:35
destination
Hisar-Amritsar Passenger
09:55
destination
Amritsar-Ludhiana MEMU
origin
13:50
Jalandhar City-Amritsar DMU
11:10
destination
Amritsar-Jalandhar City DMU
origin
21:00
Ambala-Amritsar DMU
20:40
destination
Amritsar-Ambala DMU
origin
03:30
Amritsar-DeraBaba Nanak DMU
origin
04:20
Derababa Nanak-Amritsar DMU
07:40
destination
Amritsar-Derababa Nanak DMU
origin
09:45
Derababa Nanak-Amritsar DMU
13:00
destination
Amritsar-Derababa Nanak DMU
origin
13:30
Derababa Nanak-Amritsar DMU
16:55
destination
Amritsar-Derababa Nanak DMU
origin
17:20
Derababa Nanak-Amritsar DMU
21:05
destination
Attari Amritsar DMU
09:05
destination
Amritsar-Pathankot DMU
origin
12:20
Pathankot-Amritsar DMU
07:20
destination
Amritsar-Pathankot DMU
origin
15:55
Pathankot-Amritsar DMU
15:10
destination
Amritsar-Pathankot DMU
origin
20:30
Pathankot Amritsar DMU
22:00
destination
Qadian – Amritsar DEMU
18:05
destination
Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Bhopal

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Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is a major city in central India. Bhopal Junction with station code BPL is a major railway junction on the West Central Railway and is the main railway station in Bhopal city. Habibganj and Bairagarh are the other two important stations in Bhopal.  The city has three more railway stations in Misrod, Sukhisewania, and Mandideep.

Bhopal Junction Railway Station –

The Railway Station is on the main Delhi-Chennai route and has Bina Junction on its northern side and Itarsi Junction on the southern. Another rail line leads to the Ujjain Junction on the west.  The Bhopal Junction was built in 1941 and is well-connected to all parts of the country and to most major cities by direct trains. Bhopal Junction is centrally located in the country so it is connected with most states except the North-East.  As many as 210 pairs of express trains, including Rajdhani, Garibrath, Shatabdi, Duronto, and 13 pairs of passenger trains stop here.

Many trains originate and terminate either at Bhopal Junction or at Habibganj Railway Station. These include Bhopal Shatabdi Express, Bhopal Jan Shatabdi Express, Bhopal-Mumbai Express, Shaan-e-Bhopal Express, Bhopal-Lucknow-Pratapgarh Express, Bhopal-Rewa Rewanchal Express, Bhopal-Lucknow Express, Bhopal-Gwalior Intercity Express, Bhopal-Lucknow Garibrath Express, Bhopal–Durg Amarkantak Express, Bhopal-Howrah Express, Bhopal-Bilaspur Express, Bhopal-Indore Intercity Express, Bhopal – Jaipur Express, Bhopal-Damoh Intercity Express, Bhopal-Indore AC Double Decker Intercity Express, Bhopal-Indore AC Double Decker Non-Stop Express, Bhopal-Jabalpur Intercity Express, and Bhopal-Itarsi Vindhyachal Express.

The Bhopal Junction has six platforms, separate waiting halls for men and women, restaurants, food plazas, safe drinking water facilities, computerized reservation counters, unreserved ticket counters, and internet cafes.  The Bhopal Junction is among the country’s ISO 9001 certified railway stations.

Habibganj Railway Station –

Constructed in 1975, the Habibganj Railway Station is located at Habibganj, an area close to New Bhopal, BHEL Township, Arera Colony, and Saket Nagar. It is on the Bhopal-Itarsi stretch of the West Central Railway. It is seven km away from the main railway station at Bhopal. The superfast daily train service, Shaan-e-Bhopal Express, runs from Habibganj to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi.  The AC Bhopal-Indore AC double-decker, non-stop express train starts from Habibganj.  The Bhopal Shatabdi Express runs at speeds of 160 kmph and is the fastest train in the country. Habibganj is the country’s first ISO 9001 certified railway station and is used by 2.60 lakh passengers every day.

Habibganj Railway Station (HBJ) has six platforms, and services like computerised reserved ticket counters, un-reserved ticket counters, State Bank of India’s ATM, rail restaurant, Food Plaza parcel faculty, waiting rooms, railway parking ground, mineral water vendors, railway green park, separate waiting rooms for men and women, general waiting rooms, AC waiting rooms, toilets and sanitation, internet café, STD calling booths and baggage room. The station also has special facilities for the challenged persons. These include the train time-table in Braille and exit doors for the disabled.

Bairagarh Railway Station-

Bairagarh is another important railway station of Bhopal City. Many important trains passing along the route stop there. Bairagarh, at a distance of less than 15 km from Bhopal, has now become a part of Bhopal as the city’s boundaries have expanded. It is on the rail line leading to Ujjain from Bhopal. The airport of Bhopal is located at Bairagarh. Many of Bairagarh’s residents are Sindhi and a large number of refugees from Sindh, now in Pakistan, were settled there after the partition of the country.

Manideep Railway Station  –

Manideep Railway Station located south of Bhopal on the rail route to Itarsi has stops of many trains. These include Narmada Express, Panchvalley Express, Dadar-Amritsar Express, Amritsar-Bilaspur Chhattisgarh Express, Panchvalley Fast Passenger (Indore-Chhindwara), Bhopal Express, and Jhansi – Itarsi Passenger.

Restaurants near Station –

Some of the restaurants located near the station are:

  • Travelkhana – 08800313131
  • Raj Shudh Sakahari Bhojnalya
  • New Zaiqa Veg and Non Veg
  • Metro hotel
  • Sagar Gaire Fast Food Corner
  • Milan Restaurant
  • Jharokha
  • Taste of Hyderabad

Food delicacies from Bhopal –

The famous vegetarian dishes from Bhopal include poha, saboodana khichdi, bhutte ki kees, chhola burger, chaat, panipuri, and tikkis and chakki ki shaak. Its pickles leave a lingering taste in the connoisseur’s mouth. Hot almond milk, lassi and shikanji are its popular drinks. The non-vegetarian dishes include rogan josh korma, Seekh kebab, achari gosht, shami kebab, gosht korma, murgh rezala, murgh Nizami, paneer rezala, masala rice and murgh hara.  The favourite sweet dishes are mawa-bati, shreekhand, khoprapak, gulab jamun, and jalebi. And the food story cannot end without the nice-tasting and digestive Bhopali paan.

Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Lucknow

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Lucknow, located on the banks of the Gomti River, is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh and a metropolitan city in the country.  A city steeped in culture, Lucknow has always been in the forefront of north Indian cultural and artistic movements. The capital of the Awadh Nawabs in the 18th and 19th centuries, Lucknow retains its importance in the fields of governance, education and arts even today. It is now a leader in other fields like commerce, aerospace, technology, and tourism. Although Hindi is its main language, Urdu continues to be spoken widely.

Lucknow City has a number of railway stations such as Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow Junction Railway Station, Aishbagh, Lucknow City, Daliganj, Badshahnagar, Gomtinagar, Manaknagar, Malhour, Jugaur, Amausi, Alamnagar, Kakori, Malihabad, Mohibullapur, and Utretia. Extensive bus services and other public road transport connect all the stations with each other.

But Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station and Lucknow Junction Railway Station are two main railway stations:

 The Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station :  This station is also called Lucknow NR and its station code is LKO. The name comes from the Charbagh area in the southern part of the city, where it is located as the area earlier had four gardens.  Lucknow is well-connected with important cities across the country through one of its two main stations.

Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (LKO) has been constructed on a raised plinth and has several towers and circular Awadh-type domes.  As many as 114 pairs of trains of the Northern Railway terminate or originate here.  It is also the focal point of the Lucknow-Kanpur Suburban Railway system.

The construction of the Charbagh railway station began in 1914 and was completed in 1923. The lovely building looks like a palace with a large garden in front. Its architecture is a blend of Rajput, Awadhi and Mughal styles. It is a unique building and is said that the aerial view of the Charbagh station looks like a chess board. The building’s domes and pillars seem to be the chess pieces. It is rated among the most beautiful stations in the country.

Charbagh Station is an architectural masterpiece and is one of the attractions of Lucknow. Tourists are greatly impressed as soon as they arrive. Designed by J.H. Hornimen, it cost Rs.70 lakh in those times.

The 47-mile Lucknow-Kanpur railway line became operational in 1867. It then was a part of the Oudh Rohilkhand Railway. The Lucknow division was under East Indian Railway till 1952. Before 1867, there was a large orchard on the land on which the Charbagh Railway Station stands. The impressive present building was built in 1926.

Lucknow Junction Railway Station :  Lucknow Junction Railway Station, also known as NER with station code LIN, has six platforms. Two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and cars can reach its platform No.6 by a cabway underpass. This is the third such cabway after Howrah and Gorakhpur railway stations.

The facilities available at Lucknow NR include waiting rooms, baggage room, dormitories or retiring rooms, refreshments and ATM. Counters and water coolers make pure drinking water available.

The Lucknow Junction NER is almost a continuation of the Charbagh station. People often think of it as an extension of the Charbagh railway station. People continue to call it the “Chhoti Line” as earlier it was the station for NE Railway’s meter gauge trains. Now in the Lucknow division of North Eastern Railway, it is the terminus for broad gauge trains of North Eastern Railway. The trains arriving here have to reverse the direction to leave the station even if the train is going beyond Lucknow. The Lucknow Junction NER station has a separate building made of red sandstone and has its own distinct identity.

As many as 22 pairs of express or mail trains, and 5 pairs of passenger trains start from, terminate at or pass through the LJN station every day, but none of these trains is a Rajdhani or Shatabadi.

Lucknow Junction NER was the meter gauge trains terminus for almost all tracks of North Eastern Railway zone earlier. After conversion to broad gauge, the Lucknow junction has no meter gauge tracks. Lucknow Aishbagh Junction is now the terminus for the remaining meter gauge trains services. The Aishbagh junction has broad gauge tracks too.

The work on the two-stage, Rs12500-crore Lucknow Metro is scheduled to start soon. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2016–17.

 

Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Surat

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Surat Railway Station (codenamed ST) is the second largest in revenue generation for the Western Railway Zone. Located in the heart of the Surat city in Gujarat, Surat Railway Station is on the Mumbai-Vadodara-Ahmedabad railway line. The administrative control of the station is with the Western Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. The station was built in 1860 and is well -connected with major cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities in the country. It is one of the busiest railway stations in Gujarat and handles close to 1 lakh passengers daily. Majority of the passengers visiting Surat are business men, who have interests in the gem industry. The city is famous for diamonds and other gems for polishing services. Due to the influx of passengers over the years, the fourth platform at the station was started in 1952.

Surat Railway Station is located in the eastern part of the city, and also, connected to the Central Railways through Tapti line and Udhana Junction. The station is along the main Mumbai – Ahmedabad lane and receives a lot of traffic from passenger trains, local trains, and express trains. Recently, the Mumbai Rajadhani Express was given a halt at Surat Railway station due to the high demand from passengers. Many goods trains pass through Surat station as this junction serves a good transport corridor along the western India.

The facilities offered at the busy Surat Railway station are on par with some of the best-in-class railway offerings. The passengers are provided general and air-conditioned waiting halls on each platform. The cafeteria provides both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, which are freshly cooked. The station also offers advance railway ticketing system, which issues tickets for unreserved passengers in advance. Only few stations are equipped with such systems based on the volume of passenger traffic in last few years. The high number of trains crossing this station is an ideal location for many last time travellers to visit their destinations. The enquiry counter operates throughout the day to respond passenger queries on the reservation status, train arrival and departure details. The station is also well guarded with x-ray machines at all entrances manned by Railway Protection Force (RPF). Surat Railway Station was recently modernized to include a series of bank ATM machines on platform one and food express restaurant serving variety of Gujarati dishes and sweets. The station is also famous for potters, who help passengers carry their luggage, and recently came into the news of corrupt practices followed by few potters.

The station is located at 16 Kilometres from Surat Airport and 278 Kilometres from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Mumbai. Surat Railway station is a hub for travellers and the best way to commute to the city as the airport was started only in 2007. The nearest railway stations to Surat are Udhna Junction (4 KM), Kosad Railway Station (7 KM), Gothangam Railway Station (11 KM), and Sachin Railway Station (13 KM)

Udhna Railway Station

Located at 7 kilometres from the Surat City, the Udhna Railway station (codenamed UDN) is a major station between Surat and Mumbai in Western India. The Surat Airport is located 14 Kilometres from the station. The station is also well connected with Central Railways through Jalgoan, Amaravati, and other major stations.

Kosad Railway Station

Another satellite station to Surat is the Kosad Railway station (codenamed KSE) and is located under 7 Kilometres. The station stands between Ahmedabad and Surat with many trains stopping here. The station was upgraded to include many facilities including well-designed ticket counters and clean restrooms on both the platforms. The station also has a dedicated prepaid taxi service for the benefit of passengers.

Gothangam Railway Station

This station is a passenger train hub and located at 11 Kilometres from Surat. Gothangam Railway Station (codenamed GTX) functions as a centre for all the passenger trains maintenance, and also have trains starting from here to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Valsad. The station has basic amenities and is connected to around 89 other major stations.

Sachin Railway Station

Located on the Sachin- Kansad Road, Sachin Railway Station (codenamed SCH) is 13 Kilometres from Surat. The Station is on the Vadodara- Surat- Mumbai railway line.

Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Thiruvananthapuram

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Thiruvananthapuram is the largest and busiest railway station in Kerala based on the passenger inflow. The station is also vital and most profitable in the Southern Railways Division. Every day the railway station handles over 200,000 passengers. The station is the hallmark of ancient architecture and was built in 1931 under the aegis of Sree Chithira Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram Central (code named TVC) is the primary railway station for the city and is located opposite to the Central Bus Station. Over the years, due to high passenger turnout, a second (south) terminal was built at the station in 2004, followed by third (west) terminal in 2007. There are twelve platforms, ten broad-gauge, and two meter gauge at the Thiruvananthapuram central station.

The station is the terminus for the landmark High Speed Rail corridor connecting Chennai and Bangalore with Thiruvananthapuram. Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram High Speed Rail corridor was proposed in the recent railway budget. The central station is already along the longest train routes in the country with the Kanyakumari-Jammu Express route. Thiruvananthapuram is connected with all major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Indore, Calicut, Mangalore, Gorakhpur, Madurai, and Hyderabad.

Thiruvananthapuram railway station has modernized facilities with a host of the latest passenger amenities at service. These include the computerized ticket counter for both the reservation and unreserved, escalators inside the station to commute between the platforms, furnished waiting rooms for all categories, well-maintained restrooms, and delicious food offerings at the in-house restaurants on the platform. The passengers also have access to Any Time Money (ATM), automatic ticket vending machine for platform tickets, elevators for the benefit of old persons, 24×7 customer service, foot over bridge with escalators, public address system with multiple languages for non-local passengers, prepaid auto and complimentary cloak room services. Other value added services include book stalls with a wide variety of novels, internet browsing centres, essential commodity stores with vital household items for sale and even a well-furnished dormitory inside the railway station.

The central station is well guarded with X-ray scanners located at all terminal entrances, equipped with large vehicle parking facility, parcel booking service through railway postal services, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens to update the train arrivals & departures, pleasant lighting ambience and solar lamps on the platform. The Thiruvananthapuram central station was also the first station to have a video surveillance in the state. The modern security gadgets are used by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and with 24 railway tracks, the station also functions as a hanger.

The central station due to its proximity to the bus services registers high passenger occupancy at any time of the day. There are proposals for modernisation of the central station into world class facility with an estimated budget of $16 million, and such a project would add new features to the central station. Thiruvananthapuram central station will be the first railway station to have two satellite stations to support its functions with increased passenger traffic over the last decade. The myriad of services offered at the central stations became the best practices across all the other railway stations in the Southern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways.

The station is located at almost 3.6 kilometres from the International airport, and 134 kilometres from the Tuticorin Airport. Over the years, the station has positioned itself as the jewel in the Southern Railway Division. The nearest railway stations to Thiruvananthapuram are Kochuveli Station (8 KM North), Nemom Railway station (8 KM South), and Nagercoil Junction (68 KM).

Kochuveli Railway Station

A satellite station was opened in 2005 at Kochuveli called the Kochuveli railway station (code named KCVL) close to the international airport. This railway station was built to ease the passenger traffic at the Thiruvananthapuram central station. Located north of the central station and almost 8 kilometres from the Thiruvananthapuram city, the station already operates long distance trains from the eastern side of the satellite terminal.

Nemom Railway Station

Southern Railways proposed to build another satellite railway station at Nemom to handle the passenger traffic at Thiruvananthapuram central station. Nemom railway station (code named NEM) would also support the maintenance activities that are currently done at the Thiruvananthapuram central station. Located south of the central station and almost 8 kilometres from the Thiruvananthapuram city, Nemom Railway station when operational would serve as the terminus station for all the trains coming to Thiruvananthapuram central station.

Railway Station, Railway Stations

Dehradun Railway Station – DDN

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Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand, and also one of the popular tourist places in India. The best way to reach here is through a train and Dehradun railway station is well connected with others major cities in the country. Located about two kilometres from the heart of the city, it is the terminus for Northern Railway network. This station is the gateway to Uttarakhand and is the busiest in the region. Dehradun railway station is code named DDN, and the next closest station is Rishikesh located at about 42 kilometres. The railway station was designed with an emphasis on the functional blocks, but not on the aesthetic structures.

There is only one railway station in Dehradun and the proximity of the station to the city makes train journey preferable mode of transport to the city dwellers and tourists. It hosts multiple inter-city express trains connecting to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Indore, Allahabad, Kolkata, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Amritsar. The frequency of these long distance trains position Dehradun railway station as a central hub for transportation within the state. Every year, thousands of passengers visit Dehradun railway station to earmark the journey to Missouri and Rishikesh pilgrimage. Summer is a busy season for Dehradun railway station with a huge inflow of tourists to the city.

The airport is almost 24 kilometres from the station. The station is located near few landmarks such as Indian Military Academy (6 KM), Malsi Deer Park (10 KM), Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple (6 KM), and Tapovan (5 KM). The nearest railway stations to Dehradun are Harrawala (9 KM), Doiwala (20 KM), Kansrao (30 KM), Haridwar (52 KM), and Roorkee (97 KM).

Facilities available at Dehradun Railway Station –

The influx of passengers to the busiest Dehradun railway station makes the challenge of serving them quite complex. The facilities offered at the station do provide relief to the passengers and make the experience fulfilling. The ticketing facility is computerized and passengers can check their ticket reservation status from the online kiosks located inside the railway station. The 24×7 enquiry counter service provide real-time updates on the passenger queries. The railway station is also equipped with comfortable passenger waiting rooms for all categories. The first class passengers can retire to the well-maintained air-conditioned retiring halls. The restrooms and guest rooms are tidy and the service staffs are courteous for any requested help. The railway station also houses non-vegetarian and vegetarian refreshment counters to satiate the passengers.

The railway station’s other attraction is the tourism shop, which houses the indigenous cultural items of the natives and sells a variety of books on regional literature. There is also a provision of clean drinking water on each platform of the station. The other significant amenities at the railway station include a magazine stall, outlet of the General Police Force (GPF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and a telephone booth accordingly. The station also has a help desk to provide any support to the tourists who visit the city. It is equipped with a large vehicle parking facility to accommodate the visitors, and there is a pre-paid taxi service outside the station for the benefit of the tourists to the region.

Restaurants near Dehradun Railway Station –

If passengers are not satiated with the food offerings at the cafeteria inside the Dehradun railway station, they have myriad options near the station.

  • Travelkhana Restaurant – Contact # 08800313131

These restaurants are located within a radius of 3 kilometres, and tourists can visit them to savour the regional delectable dishes. Hotel Ambassador is the closest motel to the Dehradun railway station, and the Inter State bus station is over 1 kilometre away. So, those tourists who fail to board the train, the bus services fill the void during the peak summer season.

Famous Food of Dehradun –

The cuisines of Dehradun are prepared with a large amount of milk, and locals prefer to have vegetarian dishes. Dehradun food contains high levels of nutrition      and is cooked from lentils.  Gahat ki Dal, Singodi, Kaafli, and Kumaoni Raita are the popular regional dishes. The city also houses tea plantations and tourists can taste variety of tea flavors.

Trains Passing through Dehradun (DDN) –

Train No.Train NameArr. TimeDep. Time
New Delhi – Dehradun Shatabdi Express
12:40
destination
Dehradun – New Delhi Shatabdi Express
origin
17:00
New Delhi-Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Express
21:10
destination
Dehradun-New Delhi Jan Shatabdi Express
origin
05:10
New Delhi – Dehradun AC Express
05:40
destination
Dehradun – New Delhi AC Express
origin
23:30
Kochuveli – Dehradun SF Express
18:10
destination
Dehradun-Kochuveli Weekly SF Express
origin
05:50
Upasana Express
18:10
destination
Upasana Express
origin
22:10
DEHRADUN EXP
05:00
destination
Dehradun Chennai Express(DDN-MAS)
origin
06:45
Doon Express
07:25
destination
Doon Express
origin
20:30
Mussoorie Express
08:10
destination
Mussoorie Express
origin
21:20
Sangam Express Slip(ALJN-DDN)
13:10
destination
Link Express (Sangam Slip)
origin
13:20
Kathgodam – Dehradun Express
04:20
destination
Dehradun – Kathgodam Express
origin
23:00
Varanasi – Dehradun Janta Express
06:30
destination
Dehradun – Varanasi Janta Express
origin
18:15
Ujjaini Express
19:00
destination
Ujjaini Express
origin
05:50
Indore-Dehradun Express
19:00
destination
Dehradun-Indore Express
origin
05:50
Dehradun – Amritsar (Lahori) Express
origin
19:40
Amritsar – Dehradun (Lahori) Express
10:15
destination
Rapti Ganga Express
14:00
destination
Rapti Ganga Express
origin
15:30
Rapti Ganga Express
14:00
destination
Rapti Ganga Express
origin
15:30
Mumbai Bandra Terminus- Dehradun Express
17:35
destination
Dehradun – Mumbai Bandra Terminus Express
origin
10:30
Uttaranchal Express
19:00
destination
Uttranchal Express
origin
05:50
Railway Station, Railway Stations

Railway Stations in Delhi

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Indian Railways is one of the largest rail networks in the world and carries more than 23 million passengers daily. Railways started out between two stations, Bombay and Thane in 1853. Today, there are over 8000 stations in India serving millions of passengers and dealing with freight of large quantities.

Delhi is the capital of India and also called as the National Capital Territory (NCT). It is the second in position among the most populous cities in the world, housing over 27 million residents as of 2014.

As part of its infrastructure, it has a good number of railway stations ranging from Old Delhi to the modern Metro Stations. In total, it has around 24 stations.

They are Anand Vihar (ANV), Badli (BHD), Delhi Safdarjang ( DSJ), Mangalpuri (MGLP), Nangloi (NNO), Palam (PM), Shivaji Bridge  (CSB), Tilak Bridge ( TKJ), Viveka Vihar (VVB),  Adarsh nagar (ANDI),  Okhla  (OKA), Bijwasan ( BWSN), Delhi Kishanganj (DKZ), Delhi Sarai Rohilla (DEE),  Delhi Shahdara (DSA), Narela ( NUR), Shakurbasti (SSB), Tuglakabad (TKD), Anand Vihar Terminus (ANVT), Delhi (DLI), Delhi Cantonment (DEC), Subzi Mandi (SZM), Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM), New Delhi (NDLS).

But the main stations of Delhi are as follows:

  • New Delhi Railway Station: With station code NDLS, this station is the most important of Delhi stations and is situated between Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate. This station is the third busiest and one among the largest in India. Its 16 platforms are a host to over 300 trains carrying 500,000 passengers daily. It holds the title for the biggest route interlocking system in the world (48) like the Kanpur railway station. Most East bound and South Bound trains originate from this station. Trains to other major cities also originate from this station. In 2007, a commission was given to Terry Farrell and Partners to expand and modernize the station in preparation for the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
  • Old Delhi Railway Station: Also called as Delhi Junction, this is the oldest station in Delhi. It was set up near Chandni Chowk in 1864 by the British. It is located next to civil lines and comes under Northern railways. It is connected to most major cities of India and has 10 platforms. It provides services like computerized booking, tourist information centres and the service of Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) located nearby. Begun with just 1000 passengers and 2 platforms, this station handles now more than 180,000 passengers and 200 trains on a daily basis. It was built of red stone to complement the Red Fort located nearby.
  • Anand Vihar Railway Terminal: Located near Anand Vihar in East Delhi, this modern station has many new features including its subways, a unique parcel-loading centre, and maintenance yard for 60 trains, food courts, Wi-Fi and special reservation counters. It is well-connected to Anand Vihar Metro and Anand Vihar ISBT. This station provides plenty of space for commuters to park their vehicles. It is modelled after the Vashi terminal of Mumbai. It has many facilities like cloakroom, parcel and luggage office, separate departure and arrival areas, toilets and parking areas.
  • Hazarat Nizamuddin: It is one of the major railway stations of Delhi. It is close to two of Delhi’s most important arteries: Mathura Road and Ring Road. It connects to most cities of India and was developed to ease the congestion of New Delhi station, which is located 5 km to the North. It connects to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT).
  • Delhi Sarai Rohilla: It is situated 4 km from Old Delhi railway junction. Managed by the Northern Railways, it caters to trains from regions like Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. More than 20 trains including Duronto trains originate from this station. Sarai means resting place for travellers. The village was named after Ruhullah Khan, a noble member of the Mughal court, but down the centuries, the name was corrupted to Rohilla after the Rohilla rulers who ruled this region under the Mughals. The Sarai Rohilla station was set up in 1872 during the laying of meter gauge railway line from Delhi to Jaipur and Ajmer and became a small station nearing Delhi. By 2006, all meter gauge of the station was converted to broad gauge.  It has five platforms and ticket reservation facility.

These are some of the major railways stations of Delhi, which are the pride of Indian Railways.