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Howrah Junction

Howrah Junction is one of India's most important railway terminals and the principal rail gateway serving Kolkata from the western bank of the Hooghly River. Its 23 platforms handle suburban, passenger and long-distance trains on a massive scale.

City
Howrah
State
West Bengal
Station code
HWH
Zone
Eastern Railway (ER)
Platforms
23

Howrah Junction is one of the most important and recognisable railway stations in India.

Located in Howrah on the western bank of the Hooghly River, the station serves as one of the principal railway gateways to Kolkata and eastern India.

The station code is HWH, and Indian Railways lists it under Eastern Railway.

Howrah is particularly remarkable because of the enormous scale of its operations. Eastern Railway reports that Howrah station handles trains from 23 platforms.

According to railway data, the station has handled approximately 252 Mail/Express trains, 500 suburban EMU services and 20 passenger trains daily, with average daily footfall reported at approximately 8.96 lakh passengers.

This makes Howrah much more than a long-distance railway terminus. It is also a crucial part of the Kolkata metropolitan area's suburban transportation system.

Its platforms connect passengers with destinations across West Bengal as well as cities throughout northern, southern, western and northeastern India.

Howrah Junction also has considerable historical importance. Railway development around Howrah played a central role in the early expansion of rail transport in eastern India.

Today, the station combines suburban railway operations, long-distance passenger services and connections with Kolkata's wider metropolitan transport network.

Its extraordinary passenger volumes, large number of platforms and national connectivity make Howrah Junction one of the most significant railway hubs in the country.

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