Indore today
Indore railway station, officially Indore Junction (station code INDB), is the main station of Indore, the largest city in Madhya Pradesh. It is run by the Western Railway zone, within the Ratlam division and is graded NSG-2. In 2023–24 it handled about 9.88 million passengers, roughly 4.6 million reserved and 5.3 million unreserved. It is about 1 km from the city centre and has been rated one of the cleanest stations in Madhya Pradesh in Swachh Rail surveys, fitting for a city repeatedly ranked India's cleanest.
A railway backed by the Holkars
Indore's railway owes its start to the Holkar rulers of Indore State. In 1870, the Maharaja Holkar offered a loan to finance railway construction through his territory, and the line that resulted connected Indore with the main network:
- 1 December 1874: the Khandwa–Sanawad section opens.
- 5 October 1876: the bridge over the Narmada opens, and in August that year the Indore–Ujjain branch.
- 1881–82: the Holkar and Scindia–Neemuch railways merge.
- 1885: the Bombay, Baroda and Central India (BB&CI) Railway takes over management.
- 1893: the station opens.
- 1921: the station is rebuilt by the BB&CI.
- 5 November 1951: Western Railway takes over.
- 1964–66: broad gauge reaches Indore via Ujjain and Maksi.
- 1993–2001: the Indore–Bhopal line is doubled.
- June 2012: electrification is completed.
Redevelopment for Simhastha 2028
In February 2026 the foundation stone for a complete rebuild was laid. The plan is a seven-storey station building of about 4.56 lakh square feet, designed for 10,800 passengers an hour and more than 100,000 a day, with 26 lifts, 17 escalators, parking for over 500 vehicles and rooftop solar power. It is targeted for completion in 2027, ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in nearby Ujjain.
Indore's layout
INDB has 4 main platforms plus 2 on the Park Road side, on 6 tracks, at a height of roughly 550 metres.
Notable trains at Indore
- Indore–Nagpur Vande Bharat Express
- Avantika Express to Mumbai
- Malwa Express, Shipra Express, Ahilya Nagari Express and Narmada Express
Vande Bharat, Avantika and Malwa Express timings are in our train timetable.
Getting to Indore
- Indore Metro Yellow Line serves the city.
- Road: iBus rapid transit, taxis, autos and e-rickshaws.
- Nearby by rail: Ujjain, Dewas, Khandwa and Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow).
Indore pointers
- Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar temple is a short train or road journey away.
- During redevelopment, check the entrance for your platform, especially for Park Road side platforms.