Visakhapatnam railway station

Visakhapatnam Junction (station code: VSKP) is an important railway station located in Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It has eight platforms with 508 trains passing by everyday. It is on the Howrah–Chennai main line and is being operated by East coast Railway. It may be administered under the South Coast Railway zone by Indian Railways after some time. Originally named the Waltair railway station, it was founded in 1896. It was renamed as Visakhapatnam junction in 1987.

Visakhapatnam Junction
Regional rail, Light rail & Goods railway station
1)Visakhapatnam railway station in 2021 (day) 2)Visakhapatnam railway station in 2011 3) Visakhapatnam railway station in 2021 (night)
General information
Location	Gnanapuram, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-530004 India
Coordinates	17°43′20″N 83°17′23″E
Elevation	5.970 metres (19.59 ft)
Owned by	Indian Railways
Operated by	South Coast Railway
Line(s)	Howrah–Chennai main line Visakhapatnam–Kirandul line Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section of Howrah–Chennai main line
Platforms	8
Tracks	10
Construction
Structure type	Standard on-ground
Parking	Available
Accessible	Available
Other information
Status	Active
Station code	VSKP
Zone(s)	South Coast Railway zone
Division(s)	Waltair
History
Electrified	Yes
Route map km to Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section to Kothavalasa–Kirandul line 24 Kothavalasa 15 Pendurti 8 Simhachalam North 7 Simhachalam 6 Gopalapatnam NH 16 Marshalling yard on right lines 4 Marripalem / Visakhapatnam Airport Naval Dockyard Essar Steel Iron Ore sidings 9 Kottapalem Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour 0 Visakhapatnam Hindustan Zinc BHPV NH 16 Coromandel International Visakhapatnam Refinery of HPCL Visakhapatnam port channel in blue Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour Hindustan Shipyard Visakhapatnam Port - Outer harbour Dolphin's Nose (hill with lighthouse) Link to Bay of Bengal Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Gangavaram Port 17 Duvvada NH 16 Simhadri STPP of NTPC 27 Thadi NH 16 33 Anakapalle to Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section
Location Visakhapatnam Junction Location within Visakhapatnam Interactive map

History

From 1893 to 1896, 1,287 km (800 mi) of track, covering the coast from Cuttack to Vijayawada, were built by Bengal Nagpur Railway (later South Eastern Railway). The station was founded as Waltair railway station in 1896,^[1][2] and Bengal Nagpur Railway's line to Cuttack was opened on 1 January 1899.^[1] In 1902, the company took over the 514 km (319 mi)-long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to Puri.^[2][3] The southern part was subsequently merged with Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.

Routes

Visakhapatnam has been a busy station since it was part of the East Coast Railway zone to today. Platforms are not always available for incoming trains, and the average train's halt period is at least 20 minutes.^[4]

If a train is late, trains after it are stopped at Duvvada or Vizianagaram.^[5] The Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) system is an arrangement of signal apparatus, preventing conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. It is a cause for trains being delayed after they pass through Duvvada.

Over 5,000 people per day travel between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad,^{[clarification needed]} which are connected by over 18 trains, including the newly inaugurated Visakhapatnam - Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express. Another route, the Hyderabad–Visakhapatnam Godavari Express of the South Central Railway, passes into Visakhapatnam.

Infrastructure

Visakhapatnam station's area is 103,178 m² (1,110,600 sq ft).^[6] There are eight platforms, most of which are the same size, and all of the tracks are broad-gauge and electrified.

The station features escalators and a bus station. A majority of platforms are wheelchair-friendly and accessible via ramp.

Over 200 employees work in the station.^[6]

Amenities

There are Wi-Fi facilities and a 'fun zone' for children.^[7] The east and west terminals^{[clarification needed]} are equipped with reservation counters.

Sheds

The Diesel Loco Shed at Visakhapatnam is the largest of Indian Railways, with a capacity to accommodate 300 diesel locomotives.^[8] The Electric Loco Shed can accommodate 297 locomotives.

Environmental work

Visakhapatnam has been named the cleanest railway station in the country by the Quality Council of India^[9] and earned a platinum rating for being environmentally friendly from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).^[10]

See also

• List of railway stations in India

References

1. "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
2. "A Case for Creating Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam". Mannanna.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.^{[better source needed]}
3. "History". East Coast Railway. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
4. "Transportation fails to face festive rush". CityOfVizag.com. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
5. Gopal, B. Madhu (3 June 2006). "'Terminal' injustice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
6. "Station: Visakhapatnam". South Central Railway.
7. Ani (6 September 2019). "'Fun Zone' for children at Visakhapatnam railway station". Business Standard. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
8. "Diesel Loco Shed" (PDF). Indian Railways.
9. Special Correspondent (18 May 2017). "Vizag billed the cleanest rail station". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 January 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
10. "Visakhapatnam railway station gets platinum rating by IGBC". Telangana Today. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

External links

• Visakhapatnam travel guide from Wikivoyage

Preceding station	Indian Railways			Following station
Marripalem towards ?		South Coast Railway zone Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section of Howrah–Chennai main line		Terminus