10 Most Busiest Railway Stations in India

India holds one of the massive train networks in the world covering 66 thousand kilometers in track route serving more than 23 million people with more than 20,000 trains, every day. Since the introduction of rail system to the country by British, Indians have chosen trains over other modes of transportation because of various advantages. Even today, a huge chunk of people chooses trains for their daily transportation requirements and long haul journeys.

Below is the list of busiest railway stations in India, which are ranked, based on the arrival and departure frequency.

1. Howrah Junction Railway Station

Howrah Junction holds the record for being the busiest station and the station with the highest number of platforms and passenger volume in India. Since the Victorian times, this station has been an important and busy rail junction. This is one of the ancient stations that are still in use since the 19^th century.

• Code : HWH
• Zone : ER/Eastern
• Starting year : 1854
• No. of Platform : 23
• No. of Passenger daily : 1 million
• No of Train per day : 974 (210 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 25

Know about : Kashi Mahakal Express Train – Indore to Varanasi

Also Read : Things To Know Before Travelling In Indian Luxury Trains

Suggested Tour :

• 1 Day - Kolkata Full Day Sightseeing Tour
• 1 Day - Kolkata Temples Full Day Tour
• 1 Day - Belur Math Full-Day Tour from Kolkata

2. New Delhi Station

There is no doubt that a train station in the capital of the country would be busy. Delhi holds the busiest international airport, numerous business HQ, tourism sites, and much more. Thus, the number of people using the train station in New Delhi is quite high. The New Delhi Station was first named as the Old Delhi Railway Station. This station holds the record for having the highest number of unique trains running in and out of the station every day in India.

• Code : NDLS
• Zone : NR/ Northern
• Starting year : 1864
• No. of Platform : 16
• No. of Passenger daily : 500K
• No of Train per day : 931 (350 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 18

Know about : Gatimaan Express- India’s First Semi-Bullet Train from Delhi to Agra

Also Read : Top 10 Longest Train Routes in India

3. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

CSTM or the Victoria Terminus is a heritage site located in Mumbai of Maharashtra. Built in 19^th century in Victorian Gothic style, this structure is a tourist attraction too. The station is famous for ornamental iron railings, grills, balustrades, wood carvings, and the artworks of budding artists. You can also find a few statues outside the station representing science, agriculture, commerce, and engineering.

• Code : CSTM
• Zone : CR/Central
• Starting year : 1888
• No. of Platform : 18
• No. of Passenger daily : 636 thousand people
• No of Train per day : 1250 (250 unique trains)

Also Read : IRCTC Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express

4. Kanpur Central Railway Station

Kanpur Central is one of the top central railway stations of India. This station also holds the record for having the world’s biggest interlocking rail route. The station covers 11 major lines. To handle the raising population in the station, there is a three level underground vehicle parking space with escalator under construction.

• Code : CNB
• Zone : NCR/North Central
• Starting year : 1930
• No. of Platform : 9
• No. of Passenger daily : More than 150 K
• No of Train per day : 890 (372 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 14

5. Kalyan Junction

Kalyan Junction is the most busiest and important station of Maharashtra. This station is located in Mumbai and holds six major lines. This train connects Mumbai with almost all major cities of the country. This junction serves both long distance trains and sub-urban trains.

• Code : KYN
• Zone : CR/Central
• No. of Platform : 8
• No. of Passenger daily : 800 K
• No of Train per day : 813 (200 unique trains)

Also Read : List of Luxury Trains in India

6. Patna Station

Patna station is built at an advantageous location right in between Kolkata and Delhi. Thus, several major trains and connecting trains halt at Patna. Five major lines operate via Patna Junction and it has been a busy station for centuries. This is the major train station of Bihar and was initially named as Bankipore Junction. The station was electrified only in 2004.

• Code : PNBE
• Zone : ERC/East Central
• Starting year : 1862
• No. of Platform : 10
• No. of Passenger daily : 400K
• No of Train per day : 771 (176 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 15

Also Read : Why choosing a luxury train for traveling is the convenient one in India?

7. Vijayawada Railway Station

This station of Andhra Pradesh is graded as NGS-2 by the railway department. This is the model station and has two major operational lines. This station handles almost equal number of passenger and freight trains, every day. The station also holds diesel loco shed and electric loco shed. Recently, the station has started a new system of route relay interlocking, which increases the punctuality of the trains in and out of the station.

• Code : BZA
• Zone : SCR/South Central
• Starting year : 1888
• No. of Platform : 10
• No. of Passenger daily : 140 thousand
• No of Train per day : 760 (247 trains)
• No. of the track : 22

Also Read : Luxury Train Between Chennai And Madurai – Tejas Express

8. Prayagraj Junction

Allahabad Junction of Uttar Pradesh stands as the HQ for NCR zone. Almost all the trains from south India running towards East India would halt or travel through this junction. The train station operates eight major lines. This station is also called the Prayagraj Junction. The engineering workshops of the railway department are found in this junction. This junction is graded as ‘A’ by the railway department.

• Code : PRYJ
  
• Zone : NCR/North Central
• Starting year : 1859
• No. of Platform : 10
• No of Train per day : 717 (216 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 16

Also Read : 15 Most Expensive Trains in the World

9. Itarsi Junction

Itarsi Junction is located in Hoshangabad of Madhya Pradesh. This station is connected to four sectors of the railway department and thus, you can find trains from and to almost all Indian cities. The junction has quite busy train traffic as numerous connecting trains cross Itarsi, every day.

• Code : ET
• Zone : WCR/West Central
• No. of Platform : 8
• No of Train per day : 714 (357 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 11

Also Read : Who Made The First Train In The World?

10. Vadodara Station

Vadodara Station is Gujarat’s most important and busiest station. The station also holds the record for having the biggest electric loco shed in the WR region. The station was formerly named Baroda City Junction, and thus the code for this station is still BRC. Vadodara Station is a common connecting point for various trains running between major cities. Very few trains start from Vadodara Station every day. However, hundreds of trains halt at this station while travelling between major destinations.

• Code : BRC
• Zone : WR/Western
• Starting year : 1861
• No. of Platform : 7
• No. of Passenger daily : data not available
• No of Train per day : 709 (350 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 9

Also Read : List of Luxury Trains in the World

11. Lucknow Railway Station

Lucknow Station or the Lucknow Charbagh Station is built in a fusion of Mughal, Rajput, and Awadhi style. The station holds a police station, which has ISO 9001 certification. With the gardens and the architectural elements, this is one of the most beautiful stations in the country.

• Code : LKO
• Zone : NR/Northern
• Starting year : 1914
• No. of Platform : 16
• No of Train per day : 704 (246 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 48

Also Read : Tejas Express Lucknow to Delhi Train – A Complete Guide

Know about : 20 Reasons Why Trains are better than Planes

12. PT. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn.

Mughal Sarai Junction of Uttar Pradesh is the continent’s biggest railway marshaling yard. The yard can cater to 500 trains per month. The junction is quite busy because all the east-bound Rajdhani Express stops at this station. This station was started by East India Company in 19^th century and today, it is one of the top booking stations in the country. Although the station is named as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, the locals still choose to call it as Mughal Sarai Junction.

• Code : MGS
• Zone : ERC/East Central
• Starting year : 1862
• No. of Platform : 8
• No. of Passenger daily : 15 thousand
• No of Train per day : 698 (198 unique trains)
• No. of the track : 23

Also Read : 20 Best Train Journeys in India