In a strategic move to decongest major railway hubs and streamline train operations within the Kolkata metropolitan area, Indian Railways has announced a significant rescheduling of terminal stations. Several trains that previously operated from or terminated at Howrah and Santragachi will now be shifted to Shalimar and Santragachi, effective from late October. Passengers are advised to carefully check their updated boarding and arrival points to avoid any last-minute inconvenience.
- 22851/22852 Santragachi-Mangaluru Central Superfast will now run to and from Shalimar instead of Santragachi.
- 18009/18010 Santragachi-Ajmer Express will shift its terminal to Shalimar.
- 22817/22818 Howrah-Mysuru Superfast and 12867/12868 Howrah-Puducherry Superfast will now originate and terminate at Shalimar.
- 12884 Purulia-Howrah Superfast will now terminate at Santragachi instead of Howrah.
Revised Schedule for Major Trains
The shift in operations is part of the railway’s ongoing effort to improve terminal capacity and reduce congestion at the busy Howrah station. For the 22851 Santragachi-Mangaluru Central Superfast, the change takes effect on October 29, while its return service, 22852, will operate from Shalimar starting October 31. Similarly, the 18009 Santragachi-Ajmer Express will begin its journey from Shalimar on October 30, with the return 18010 service terminating at Shalimar from November 1.
Long-distance connectivity is also seeing adjustments. The 22817 Howrah-Mysuru Superfast will shift to Shalimar starting October 30, and the return 22818 will arrive at Shalimar from November 1. The 12867 Howrah-Puducherry Superfast is scheduled to depart from Shalimar beginning October 25, with the return 12868 service arriving at the new terminal from October 28. Additionally, the 12884 Purulia-Howrah Superfast will conclude its journey at Santragachi instead of Howrah, effective October 25.
Important Advisory for Passengers
Indian Railways has urged all passengers to verify their updated departure and arrival stations before heading to the station. As these changes involve a shift in terminal locations within the Kolkata region, failing to check the updated schedule could result in missing the train. Passengers can check the latest status through the official IRCTC website or the NTES app to ensure a smooth travel experience.