Howrah Junction Railway Station, commonly known as Howrah Station, is one of the most important railway terminals serving Howrah and Kolkata, West Bengal. Its station code is HWH, and RailYatri lists it as an A+ grade station under Eastern Railway.

Located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, the station acts as a major gateway connecting Kolkata and Howrah with destinations across West Bengal and many other parts of India. It serves railway operations associated with both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway.

The station is also an important heritage landmark. The present historic station building was designed by British architect Halsey Ricardo and opened to the public on 1 December 1905.

History of Howrah Railway Station

Beginning in 1854

The history of Howrah Station is closely connected with the early development of railways in eastern India.

The station was established in 1854, when the East Indian Railway developed a railway connection from Howrah towards the coalfields of the Bardhaman region. The West Bengal Railway Police's history of Indian Railways also identifies Howrah Station as being established in 1854.

The earliest station was considerably smaller than the present complex. Historical railway material describes the first Howrah station as a modest structure with a small number of tracks and platforms.

Expansion of the Railway Network

As railway traffic increased and new routes were developed, Howrah became an increasingly important railway centre.

The extension of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway to Howrah in 1900, along with the development of connections towards Kharagpur and other regions, increased the importance of the station.

Present Heritage Building

With railway traffic growing, a much larger station building was proposed in 1901.

British architect Halsey Ricardo designed the new building. It was opened to passengers on 1 December 1905, with construction completed in the following years. The building is recognised for its imposing colonial-era architecture, symmetrical façade, large arched openings and multiple towers.

Further Expansion

Howrah Station continued to expand during the 20th century.

The station was expanded to 15 platforms during the 1980s. A new terminal complex was subsequently completed in 1992, increasing the total to 19 platforms, followed by further expansion in 2009.

The railway complex has therefore developed from a small 19th-century terminal into a large modern railway hub.

Important Train Connections

Howrah has historically been the starting or terminating point for several important railway services.

For example, the first Rajdhani Express service departed from Howrah for New Delhi on 3 March 1969. Howrah has also been associated with other notable services, including the Howrah-Dhanbad Double Decker Express and the Howrah-Ernakulam Antyodaya Express.

Architectural & Heritage Importance

The historic Howrah Station building is an important example of colonial-era railway architecture.

The Indian Railways heritage listing describes the building as an imposing symmetrical structure designed by Halsey Ricardo, with a façade featuring colonnaded verandahs, Roman-arched openings and corner towers with conical roofs.

The station's historic architecture and its continuing role in India's railway network make it both a transportation hub and a significant heritage landmark.

How to Reach Howrah Railway Station

From Kolkata

Howrah Station is directly connected with Kolkata across the Hooghly River.

Passengers can reach the station by:

• Howrah Bridge
• Public buses
• Taxis and app-based cabs
• Auto-rickshaws
• Ferry services from Kolkata-side river ghats
• Local transport from central Kolkata

From Howrah City

The station is easily accessible from different parts of Howrah by bus, auto, taxi and other local transport.

By Railway

Howrah is itself a major railway junction. RailYatri lists nearby major railway stations including Sealdah, Shalimar, Santragachi and Liluah.

Address

Howrah Junction Railway Station
Howrah, West Bengal, India

Station Code: HWH

Railway Zone: Eastern Railway