Visakhapatnam railway station

Railway station at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh

17°43′20″N 83°17′23″E / 17.7221°N 83.2897°E / 17.7221; 83.2897Elevation5.970 metres (19.59 ft)Owned byIndian RailwaysOperated bySouth Coast Railway ZoneLine(s)Howrah–Chennai main line
Visakhapatnam–Kirandul line
Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section of Howrah–Chennai main linePlatforms8Tracks10ConstructionStructure typeStandard on-groundParkingAvailableAccessible

AvailableOther informationStatusActiveStation codeVSKP Zone(s) South Coast Railway Zone Division(s) WaltairHistoryElectrifiedYes

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

Visakhapatnam Junction (station code: VSKP) is an important railway station located in Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is on the Howrah–Chennai main line. It is operated by East coast Railway till now and it may take some time to administered under the South Coast Railway zone by Indian Railways. Originally named the Waltair railway station, it was founded in 1896. In 1987, it was renamed Visakhapatnam.

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 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]

References

^ ^a ^b "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^ ^a ^b "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]}
^ "History". East Coast Railway. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
^ "Transportation fails to face festive rush". CityOfVizag.com. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
^ Gopal, B. Madhu (3 June 2006). "'Terminal' injustice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Station: Visakhapatnam". South Central Railway.
^ Ani (6 September 2019). "'Fun Zone' for children at Visakhapatnam railway station". Business Standard. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
^ "Diesel Loco Shed" (PDF). Indian Railways.
^ Special Correspondent (18 May 2017). "Vizag billed the cleanest rail station". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
^ "Visakhapatnam railway station gets platinum rating by IGBC". Telangana Today. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.