Siliguri Junction railway station


Siliguri Junction is one of the three railway stations that serves the city of Siliguri located in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The other two stations are: Siliguri Town and New Jalpaiguri. It has broad gauge and Narrow Gauge tracks. It formerly had the distinction of having three gauges but the metre-gauge line from Aluabari Road to Siliguri Junction was converted later into broad gauge. Few years ago train bus used to run between Siliguri Junction to naksalbari by the metre gauge line..

History

With 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 were converted to broad gauge. The focus shifted in 1960 to a brand new broad gauge station at New Jalpaiguri.

Amenities

Amenities at Siliguri Junction include: Waiting room, Retiring room, Tourist Information Centre, Book stalls and some variety stores. Tenzing Norgay central bus terminal is located just outside this railway station and West Bengal Tourism Office is also located nearby. Siliguri Junction has three two-bedded retiring rooms and a four-bedded dormitory.
Distance from Siliguri Junction: Bagdogra Airport, New Jalpaiguri railway station, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Thimphu.

City Transportation

Buses

The North Bengal State Transport Corporation operates bus services from Siliguri Junction railway station to Siliguri city and sub urban areas, Also private buses runs between all over the city from Siliguri Junction railway station. The Tenzing Norgay central bus terminal is beside to the Siliguri junction railway station, so long route buses are also available from near the railway station.

Cars

Siliguri 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

A metre gauge diesel loco shed 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.