Siliguri Junction (station code:- SGUJ) is one of the major and second largest railway station that serve the city of Siliguri located in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station has two types of gauges visible i.e. 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, & 610 mm (2 ft) narrow-gauge tracks for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. It was opened in 1949. It formerly had the distinction of having three gauges visible but the metre-gauge line from Aluabari Road to Siliguri Junction was converted later into broad gauge. A few years ago[when?], the trains used to run between Siliguri Junction to Naksalbari on the metre-gauge line. Siliguri Junction lies on three railway lines New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line, Katihar–Siliguri line and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Line. This railway station also has its own locomotive shed i.e Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri
Siliguri Junction | |||||||
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| Regional rail & Commuter rail station | |||||||
 Siliguri Junction Railway Station Complex | |||||||
| General information | |||||||
| Location | Hill Cart Road, Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri–734001, Darjeeling district, West Bengal India | ||||||
| Coordinates | 26°43′24″N 88°24′50″E / 26.7234°N 88.4138°E | ||||||
| Elevation | 120 metres (390 ft) | ||||||
| Owned by | Indian Railways | ||||||
| Operated by | Northeast Frontier Railways | ||||||
| Line(s) | |||||||
| Platforms |
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| Tracks | 10 | ||||||
| Construction | |||||||
| Structure type | Standard on ground | ||||||
| Parking |  Available | ||||||
| Bicycle facilities |  Available | ||||||
| Accessible |  Yes | ||||||
| Other information | |||||||
| Status | Functioning | ||||||
| Station code | SGUJ | ||||||
| Zone(s) | Northeast Frontier Railway zone | ||||||
| Division(s) | Katihar | ||||||
| History | |||||||
| Opened | 1949 | ||||||
| Electrified | January 10, 2020[1] | ||||||
| Passengers | |||||||
50,000/Day ( high) | |||||||
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Railways in the Siliguri area | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
editWith the railway routes badly disturbed by the partition of India in 1947, Siliguri Town railway station suddenly lost its preeminence as the broad-gauge link to Calcutta running across East Pakistan. With three metre-gauge lines, the new Siliguri Junction railway station became the main railway station in the area. The three metre-gauge lines were linked to Kishanganj and Barsoi, Assam and Haldibari. The narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was there. The short reign was over in the 1960s when a new broad-gauge line linked Siliguri with Calcutta, and subsequently, all railway lines in the area (excepting Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) were converted to broad gauge. The focus shifted in 1960 to a brand new broad-gauge station at New Jalpaiguri.[2]
Amenities
editAmenities at Siliguri Junction include: Waiting room, Retiring room, Tourist Information Centre, Book stalls and some variety stores. Tenzing Norgay central bus terminal and SNT Siliguri bus stand are located just outside this railway station and West Bengal Tourism Office is also located nearby.
City transportation
editBuses
editThe North Bengal State Transport Corporation operates bus services from Siliguri Junction railway station to Siliguri city and suburban areas, Also private buses runs between all over the city from Siliguri Junction railway station. The Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus and SNT Siliguri Bus Terminus are just opposite to each other besides Siliguri junction railway station, so long-route buses are available from these terminus.
Cars
editSiliguri junction railway station is located in the middle of the Siliguri city, so it is very easy to reach the railway station.
Ride aggregator services Uber, Rapido, Ola provide rides from the train station to various parts of the city. One can also book private cabs to go Darjeeling, Gangtok and all over hill areas. Apart from these numerous private taxi operators provide pre-paid and post-paid taxi services to the city. E-rickshaw, City auto facilities are available in the station.
Diesel loco shed
editDiesel Loco Shed, Siliguri was established at Siliguri in 1961 and a new broad-gauge diesel loco shed was established in 2007. WDP 4 and WDG 4 locos were transferred from Hubli. It is home to the WDP-4 loco "Baaz". Nowadays it is also holds WDP 4B, WDP 4D & WDG 4D locomotives.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Electric loco set to start from NJP". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Alastair Boobyer. "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
External links
edit- Siliguri Junction railway station at the India Rail Info
Siliguri travel guide from Wikivoyage
| Preceding station | Following station | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siliguri Town towards ?
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Northeast Frontier Railway zone | Gulma towards ?
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| Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Siliguri–Darjeeling light railway
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Sukna towards ?
| |||
| Terminus | Northeast Frontier Railway zone | Matigara towards ?
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| Northeast Frontier Railway zone | ||||