Latest news with #DurontoExpress
India.com
17 hours ago
- India.com
India's Largest Station: THIS station has 23 platforms, serves more than 6 lakh passengers daily, its not in Delhi or Mumbai, name is…
New Delhi: Over the past decade, the Modi government has implemented transformative changes in the Indian Railways. Starting from 100 percent electrification of railway tracks to redevelopment of platforms, the sector has witnessed massive changes that have made the traveling experience of the passengers better and convenient. But do you know which is India's largest railway station? It's the Howrah Junction in West Bengal. Located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, this iconic station is the main rail hub for Kolkata. In this article, we will tell you some of the interesting facts about the Howrah Station. Howrah Junction has 23 platforms and handles over 280 trains daily, serving more than six lakh passengers every day. Howrah Station: All You Need To Know Established in 1854 during British rule and fully operational by 1906, Howrah Junction now spans more than 70 acres. It offers modern facilities including WiFi, food courts, and spacious waiting rooms. Howrah Junction has 23 platforms and handles over 280 trains daily The station serves more than six lakh passengers every day. It is the busiest station in India and a key link connecting eastern and southern India to the rest of the country. Major trains such as the Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express, and Shatabdi Express all pass through here. Indian Railways is planning further upgrades, including platform enhancements, easier digital ticketing, and potentially integrating high-speed rail services. The station is also a historical landmark, with its heritage architecture, bustling nearby markets, and the iconic Howrah Bridge adding to its charm.
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
THIS is India's largest railway station, has 23 platforms, over 280 trains operate daily; not in Delhi, Mumbai, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, it's located in…, name is…
When it comes to the biggest railway station in India, many people immediately think of Delhi or Mumbai. But this is not true. The country's biggest railway station is neither in Delhi nor in Mumbai. The biggest station in the country has 23 platforms, with more than 280 trains arriving and departing from here daily. Thousands of passengers are bustling around here at all times. This station is not just a stop for trains, but it is also a thriving city, with a new story being born every minute. We are discussing Howrah Junction in West Bengal, the largest railway station in the country, located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, the main railway station of Kolkata city. It has 23 platforms, with more than 600,000 daily passengers, making it the busiest station in India. Every day, more than 280 trains pass through this station, including major trains, namely, the Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express, and Shatabdi Express. This station is a major connection that links eastern, southern India to the rest of the country. In 1854, Howrah Junction was formed under British rule, with services commencing fully in 1906, and its building and services have gradually improved over time. Currently, the station sprawls across in excess of 70 acres, with services and amenities that include WiFi, food courts, and waiting rooms. Despite this, the railway authorities have to continually deal with managing large crowds and traffic in this station. The volume of trains and passengers is very high day in and day out, so congestion is normal in this station. Recently, the railway has been changing and implementing things such as the number of platforms, and making digital ticket purchasing in advance easier. There are ideas to modernise Howrah Junction further in the next few years, with modern amenities, including a more integrated campus for high-speed rail. Howrah Junction is an invaluable place in the modern world for travelers as well as for tourists. The station has an unimaginable scale (with interesting features) and has significant historical architecture. The surrounding markets and the natural beauty of the Howrah Bridge make it all the more better.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Vande Bharat Count Touches 75 As Three New Routes Open On Sunday
The new routes are Bengaluru to Belagavi, Amritsar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune Three new Vande Bharat Express trains will be inaugurated on Sunday, connecting Bengaluru to Belagavi, Amritsar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune. With these additions, the total count of the Vande Bharat trains will touch 75. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the development on the social media platform X. Look forward to being among the people of Bengaluru tomorrow, 10th August. From the KSR Railway Station, 3 Vande Bharat Express trains will be flagged off which will enhance connectivity. In a boost for Bengaluru's urban infrastructure, Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro will be…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2025 The commercial services for the three trains will start on Monday, News18 has learnt. Last week, News18 reported about the flagging off of these trains on Sunday, covering the abovementioned routes. The Ajni-Pune Vande Bharat will take 12 hours—the longest for a chair car train in India. This will be an eight-coach train. So far, to complete the nearly 900 km journey between Nagpur and Pune, Duronto Express is the fastest train on this route, taking nearly 13 hours. The new Vande Bharat will start from Ajni station, about 3 km from Nagpur railway station, on the Delhi-Chennai line. As of now, among the existing 72 Vande Bharat trains, the Delhi-Varanasi route covers the longest distance of over 750 km, while the Tatanagar-Brahmapur train has the longest travel time at nine hours and 25 minutes. The chair car services have proved successful, boasting almost 100% occupancy across 144 routes nationwide. Maharashtra alone has 22 such services. Nagpur is connected to Secunderabad, Bilaspur, and Indore via Vande Bharat trains, while Pune operates trains to Hubballi and Kolhapur. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat will cover the journey in five hours and 40 minutes. The chair car fare will be Rs 1,005 and the executive class fare Rs 1,890. On its way back, the journey from Amritsar will take five hours and 35 minutes, costing Rs 1,170 for the chair car and Rs 2,085 for the executive class. The train will cover Amritsar, Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt, and Jammu Tawi before reaching its final destination, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. The Bengaluru-Belagavi journey will cost Rs 2,905 for the executive class and Rs 1,575 for the chair car. It will be completed in eight hours and 20 minutes. The return journey from Belagavi will take eight hours and 30 minutes. The cost for a chair car ticket will be Rs 1,630 and Rs 2,955 for the executive class. The SBC Vande Bharat (26751) will cover Dharwar, SSS Hubballi Junction, SMM Haveri, Davangere, Tumakuru, and Yesvantpur Junction between Belagavi and KSR Bengaluru. The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated in 2019. While the government had planned to inaugurate 75 Vande Bharat trains during the 75 weeks of the Amrit Mahotsav by August 15, 2024, the ministry achieved the milestone before August 15, 2025. tags : railway train vande bharat view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 10, 2025, 00:38 IST News india Vande Bharat Count Touches 75 As Three New Routes Open On Sunday Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
3 New Vande Bharat Chair Cars To Launch This Week, Including Nagpur-Pune; Sleeper Variant Soon
The decision on the remaining two routes is still under consideration, a railway ministry official said. The tentative routes are Belgaum-Bengaluru and Katra-Amritsar At least three Vande Bharat Chair Cars are expected to be inaugurated on August 10, with one of these connecting Nagpur and Pune, officials aware of the details told News18. The decision on the remaining two routes is still under consideration, a railway ministry official said. The tentative routes are Belgaum-Bengaluru and Katra-Amritsar, as of Wednesday. The nearly 900 km train ride between Nagpur and Pune will be completed in about 10 hours. Currently, Duronto Express is the fastest train on this route, taking nearly 13 hours. The Vande Bharat will start from Ajni station, about 3 km from Nagpur Railway Station, on the Delhi-Chennai line. Among existing Vande Bharat services, the Delhi-Varanasi route covers the longest distance of over 750 km, while the Tatanagar-Brahmapur train has the longest travel time at nine hours and 25 minutes. 'Three new trains are most likely to be flagged off on August 10. One of the routes will be Ajni-Pune," an official said. 'For the remaining routes, the final approvals are pending." The ministry has not issued any official details of the trains or routes as of now. As the Chair Car network expands, Indian Railways is gearing up to launch the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper variant—the third category after Chair Car and Vande Metro. Vande Bharat Sleeper Expected Soon: In High Demand Already Indian Railways is expected to introduce the Vande Bharat Sleeper train soon, with the ministry finalising the route, News18 has learnt. Earlier plans were for an August 10 launch, which is being reconsidered. In recent weeks, several requests have reached railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's office for sleeper train allocations, including proposals from poll-bound states Bihar and West Bengal. The Nagpur Division of the central zone submitted a proposal in June for the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper, but it remains under consideration. On Wednesday, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowta from Dakshina Kannada met Vaishnaw, urging the allocation of the sleeper train on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru route. 'There is huge demand for the Sleeper Vande Bharat, and the ministry will soon finalise the route," an official added. The Vande Bharat Sleeper offers three classes—AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier—with a total capacity of 1,128 passengers. Delhi-Patna Route Under Consideration Among the frontrunner routes is Delhi-Patna, although Indian Railways is yet to make an official announcement. In 2024 and earlier this year, a special Vande Bharat Chair Car operated on this route during festive seasons, covering nearly 1,000 km in 11 hours and 30 minutes—the longest chair car journey to date. The first sleeper rake, built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, has already undergone successful trials and was allocated to the northern zone in February, News18 was informed. Earlier this year, the ministry had announced plans to deliver 10 sleeper trains by December. As of July 31, only one train set had been produced. These new sets of trains are redefining travel comfort and convenience for millions of passengers across the country, with commuters expecting faster, safer, and more luxurious journeys. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Luggage lifters strike Duronto Express, steal passengers' goods worth lakhs
Patna: Raising serious concerns over passengers' security on trains, thieves struck at least five coaches of New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Duronto Express (12282) in the early hours of Friday and decamped with valuables worth several lakhs of rupees, belonging to about 10 to 12 passengers aboard. The criminals struck coaches B1, B2, B3, S2 and SE1 — three of which are air-conditioned — between Paraiya and Kastha stations near Gaya Junction in Bihar falling under the DDU division of East Central Railway (ECR) and decamped with the booty scot-free under the cover of darkness by pulling an alarm chain to halt the train. According to Gaya Government Railway Police (GRP) inspector Rajesh Kumar Singh, the criminals stole Rs 50,000 in cash, seven mobile phones, one laptop and other valuables of the passengers while they were fast asleep in the dead of night between DDU and Gaya station on the Grand Chord section. Victim passengers, including K V Rivli, Bhawani Shankar and Suchi Smita, in their statement to police, raised serious questions about the security lapse as to how the criminals managed to board the reserved AC coaches. The train had no scheduled stoppage at Gaya Junction and that it would stop at Adra only under South Eastern Railway jurisdiction after DDU, they said. Other passengers like Anita, Sumita Patnaik and Anita Bappam, in their statements, said that their belongings were very much intact till DDU where the train reached around 12.20am. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Public Speaking Course for Children Planet Spark Book Now Undo However, their luggage and other valuables, including purses, were missing when they woke up after the train suddenly stopped near Gaya around 1.30am, they added. The GRP inspector said a team left with the victim passengers by Duronto Express to record their statements after the train was detained for about 40 minutes. "The GRP personnel, in coordination with Rafiganj Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Paraiya's local police, launched a massive hunt for the criminals. Intensive raids were conducted at the hideouts of the suspected criminals in Paraiya and Kastha areas, as a result the police team recovered six mobile phones, one laptop and five purses, belonging to the passengers," the GRP inspector said, adding raids were still going on at the suspects' hideouts to recover other valuables, including cash. Meanwhile, DDU RPF commandant Jetin Raj deployed a special intelligence team to assist in the investigation and trace the culprits. The police are examining CCTV camera footage from the stations concerned and questioning the railway staff in the matter, he said, adding the RPF escort party got down at DDU, and thus there was no escort party on board the train. The Gaya GRP has registered an FIR in this connection.
