Kolkata, formerly spelled Calcutta, is the capital of West Bengal, and the third largest city in India (after Mumbai and Delhi). It still retains much British colonial, Victorian-style architecture.
There are five major railway stations serving the cities of Kolkata and Howrah. They are Howrah Railway Station, Kolkata Railway Station, Sealdah Railway Station, Shalimar Railway Station and Santragachi Junction Railway Station.
Located on the west bank of the Hooghly River, Howrah Railway Station is the most important train station in Kolkata and Howrah. This railway station was opened in 1854, which is the second oldest one in India. It is also one of the largest railway stations of the country. Howrah Railway Station serves intercity lines and long-distance lines from Kolkata and Howrah to other cities in West Bengal and India.
Howrah Railway Station has two terminals. Platform numbers 1 to 16 are in the old terminal 1, serving trains of the Eastern Railway and local trains of the Southeastern Railway. Platform numbers 17 to 23 are in the new Terminal 2, serving long-distance trains of the Southeastern Railway.
Metro
Nowadays, only Metro Line 1 is in service. Metro Line 2, which connects Howrah Station with Sealdah Station and Metro Line 1, is expected to begin operation in June, 2018.
Bus
17A, 17, L16, 17B, 12A, 12C
Taxi & Tuk-Tuk
If you are looking for a point-to-point means of transportation in the city, you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk. These are more flexible than metro and bus. For long-distance journeys, pre-paid AC taxi is recommended.
Operating since 1862, Sealdah Railway Station is one of the four major stations in Kolkata, as well as one of the busiest and most crowded stations in India.
There are three terminals in Sealdah: Main Terminal, South Terminal and North Terminal. Each terminal has different platforms. Sealdah Main Terminal serves long-distance mail and express trains. The South Terminal serves mainly local trains.
St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata
Metro
After completion in June, 2018, Metro Line 2 will pass through Sealdah Railway Station, linking Sealdah with Howrah Railway Station.
Bus
11, 12, 13, 14/1, 18B, 18C, 21, 122, 176, 178, 185, 211/A/1, 217, 221, 227, 230, S12, S16, S22, S25, S35, T-4, T-6
Newly commissioned in 2006, Kolkata Railway Station was once called Chitpur Station. Compared to Howrah and Sealdah Stations, Kolkata Station is relatively small. In addition to the lines connecting Kolkata to other cities of India, this station serves suburban trains to Kolkata Airport and international trains to Bangladesh.
Bus
S32, S32A, AC10, 24B, 71, 30B, 215, L238
Built in 2000, Shalimar is a small railway station located in Howrah, far from the city center. The station is less crowded and less well-maintained than Howrah and Sealdah Stations. It mainly serves trains to the north and east of Kolkata.
More than 10 trains running between Delhi, capital of Indian, and Kolkata, India’s fourth largest city.
To avoid embarrassment, we will introduce what to expect when you’re travelling by train in India.
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