Railways in India have been a major source of transportation since the colonial period. Over the years, the Indian Railways network has grown to become one of the largest in the world, with more than 12,000 stations spread across the country. The sheer size and scale of the railway network make it an integral part of India’s transportation infrastructure.
With so many railway stations in India, it can be difficult to keep track of the biggest and busiest ones. This blog post will explore the top 10 biggest railway stations in India, providing an overview of their historical background, current services and amenities, and more.
Introduction to the top 10 biggest railway stations in India
The Indian Railways network is the fourth largest in the world, operating more than 20,000 trains daily. There are more than 12,000 railway stations in India, ranging from small, unmanned stations to the largest, busiest stations. The top 10 biggest railway stations in India, based on a number of platforms, are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, New Delhi Railway Station, Kolkata Railway Station, Chennai Central Railway Station, Secunderabad Railway Station, Howrah Junction Railway Station, Bengaluru City Railway Station, Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station, Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, and Visakhapatnam Railway Station.
These stations are major hubs for transportation in India and connect cities, towns, and villages across the country. This blog post will provide an overview of the top 10 biggest railway stations in India, their historical background, current services and amenities, and more.
Historical Background of the top 10 biggest railway stations in India
Railways in India were first introduced by the British East India Company in 1853. The first railway line in India was opened between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane. The Indian Railways network has since grown to become one of the largest in the world, with more than 12,000 stations spread across the country.
The top 10 biggest railway stations in India are the major hubs of the Indian Railways network. These stations are known for their large number of platforms and daily passenger footfall. They have been an integral part of the Indian Railways network since its inception and have played a major role in connecting cities, towns, and villages across the country.
List of the Top 10 Biggest Railway Stations in India
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)Mumbai
- New Delhi Railway Station
- Kolkata Railway Station
- Chennai Central Railway Station
- Secunderabad Railway Station
- Howrah Junction Railway Station
- Bengaluru City Railway Station
- Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station
- Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station
- Visakhapatnam Railway Station
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is the largest railway station in India. Located in Mumbai, this station is the headquarters of the Central Railways. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than three million passengers traveling through the station daily.
This station has 18 platforms and handles more than 300 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It is one of the few railway stations in the world that has a World Heritage Site status. CSMT has also been featured in many Bollywood films, including the iconic Sholay.
The station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services and the Mumbai Metro. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
New Delhi Railway Station
New Delhi Railway Station, located in the capital city of India, is the second largest railway station in the country. This station is the headquarters of the Northern Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than two million passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 16 platforms and serves more than 200 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
New Delhi Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Delhi Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Kolkata Railway Station
Kolkata Railway Station is the third largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the Eastern Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than two million passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 15 platforms and serves more than 100 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Kolkata Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Kolkata Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Chennai Central Railway Station
Chennai Central Railway Station is the fourth largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the Southern Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than one million passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 13 platforms and serves more than 120 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Chennai Central Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Chennai Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station is the fifth largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the South Central Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 800,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 12 platforms and serves more than 100 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Secunderabad Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Hyderabad Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Howrah Junction Railway Station
Howrah Junction Railway Station is the sixth largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the Eastern Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 700,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 11 platforms and serves more than 70 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Howrah Junction Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Kolkata Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Bengaluru City Railway Station
Bengaluru City Railway Station is the seventh largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the South Western Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 600,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 10 platforms and serves more than 90 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Bengaluru City Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Bengaluru Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station
Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station is the eighth-largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the South Central Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 500,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 9 platforms and serves more than 60 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto rickshaws, and the Hyderabad Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is the ninth-largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the Southern Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 400,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 8 platforms and serves more than 50 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto-rickshaws, and the Thiruvananthapuram Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Visakhapatnam Railway Station
Visakhapatnam Railway Station is the tenth largest railway station in India. This station is the headquarters of the East Coast Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, with more than 300,000 passengers traveling through the station daily.
The station has 7 platforms and serves more than 40 long-distance and suburban trains each day. It also has many amenities, such as a waiting room, washrooms, refreshment stalls, book stalls, and more.
Visakhapatnam Railway Station is well-connected to the rest of the city and is served by several bus services, auto-rickshaws, and the Visakhapatnam Metro. It is also the main hub for many long-distance and luxury trains, such as the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express.
Conclusion
The top 10 biggest railway stations in India are major hubs of the Indian Railways network. These stations have been an integral part of the Indian Railways network since its inception and have played a major role in connecting cities, towns, and villages across the country.
This blog post has provided an overview of the top 10 biggest railway stations in India, their historical background, current services and amenities, and more. With so many railway stations in India, it can be difficult to keep track of the biggest and busiest ones. We hope this blog post has helped you explore the top 10 biggest railway stations in India.
If you’re looking for more information about the top 10 biggest railway stations in India, then don’t forget to check out our comprehensive guide. We’re sure it will help you plan your next journey in India.