Railways

Railways or biggest junctions have become one of the most reliable transportation routes in terms of their level of safety. Unlike other types of transportation, trains are the fastest and least influenced by common weather turbulences, such as rain or fog. Railways are much more efficient than any other mode of transportation. It follows a set path and timetable. Compared to other means of transportation, its operations are more dependable, consistent, and regular. As a result, it’s now a sophisticated technology employed on long-distance networks between cities and countries.

Indian Railways: A Brief History

Railways in British India were suggested in 1832. When the notion was first put out, It was still a relatively new kind of transportation. However, the East India Company had already seen the advantages of creating a comprehensive rail system. After more than a decade of delay, the Governor-General of India, Lord Hardinge, enabled private businesses to create a rail system in 1844. In the year 1845, two railroad firms were established: the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and the East Indian Railway Company.

Between Bori Bunder in Mumbai and Thane, about 34 kilometres, the first railway in India ran on April 16, 1853. About 14,500 kilometres of the track was laid down in 1880, centred on the three main port towns of Mumbai, Madras, and Kolkata on the subcontinent. The Railway Board was established in 1901 under the supervision of the Department of Commerce and Industry. Despite this, the Viceroy held all of the authority. 

What is Junction?

There must be at least three independent routes to and from a station to be the biggest junctions. Two different exit paths for trains arriving and exiting the station are required. It is common for junction stations to have numerous platform faces to accommodate trains arriving at the station from various locations simultaneously, although this is not always the case. 

Located in Kolkata, Howrah railway station is India’s largest railway junction.

It is the country’s oldest and biggest railway station. The Howrah railway biggest junctions in Kolkata has a long and distinguished history from the British era. Around 15 million travellers were passing through each day before the Covid-19. Several trains are passing through the Howrah station.

Pride of Kolkata’s Howrah railway station contains 25 train lines and 22 platforms. Vehicles like cars or bikes are welcome on the train platforms, both for personal and business use. Howrah Junction features three electric line tracks. Every day, 360 passenger trains pass by. However, 133 trains depart from Howrah station.

What is a Central Station?

The Central is its busiest and most significant stop among a city’s many stations. With so many people arriving and departing, it’s a busy hub. These stations may be among the oldest. Hence they’re known as central. Stations built on the fringes of cities but have now been swallowed up by urban expansion gave rise to the concept of central stations in the late nineteenth century.

Indian railways’ significance

In India, trains are the primary form of transportation for both freight and people. In addition to facilitating the movement of products across large distances, biggest junctions have facilitated a wide range of activities, including commerce, tourism, religion, and vacation. Long-distance travel is made much more comfortable with this mode of transportation. By transporting raw ingredients to the factories and distributing completed items to the marketplace, it has sped up agricultural and industrial growth in the nation.

Who is considered to be the founding father of Indian Railways?

When it comes to global employment, the Indian Railways ranks 8th. It is widely acknowledged that Lord Dalhousie was the founding father of India’s railroad system. Indian Railway Minister John Mathai served under the country’s first administration.

Largest railway station in the world

New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, constructed between 1903 and 1913 and contains 44 platforms, is the world’s largest railway station by platform count. Two underground floors house the facility’s tracks; one has 41 and the other with 26 lanes each. With a total surface area of 19 hectares, it serves an average of 660 Northern Line trains and 125,000 daily passengers.

On the other hand, Grand Central is a great legacy of the golden age of Rail that founded the United States. Grand Central’s crowning achievement is the magnificent and vast Main Concourse, both grand and spacious. On top of the data booth’s four-sided brass clock sits a lovely meeting spot for travellers.

Conclusion

Furthermore, the New Delhi Railway Station has been awarded a spot in the Guinness World records for possessing the world’s biggest Route Relay Interlocking System. This technique is used when many tracks are linked with one another. During moments of heavy traffic flow, it aids in the redirection of train movements. As per Economist, Indian Railways or all biggest junctions employ about 1.4 million people, making it the world’s 7th biggest employer. Pir Panjal is the Indian Railways’ longest tunnel, connecting Kashmir Valley to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a total length of about 11.2 kilometres. Vivek Express is the train that travels the furthest distance.