Sealdah in brief
Sealdah Station (station code SDAH) is one of Kolkata's two great railway terminals and one of the busiest stations in India, with more than 1.5 million passengers a day as of 2026. Most of them are suburban commuters. It is part of the Eastern Railway, is the headquarters station of the Sealdah division, and is graded NSG-1.
The story of Sealdah
Sealdah opened on 2 December 1862 as part of the Eastern Bengal Railway network, and a proper station building followed in 1869. The station was electrified in 1960. For decades it was also a tram terminus; the tram depot in front of the station was demolished in 1981, and tram services in the area ended completely in 2019.
Platforms and sections
Sealdah is easiest to understand as three stations under one name, with 21 platforms and 28 tracks in total:
| Section | Platforms | Mainly used for |
|---|---|---|
| Sealdah North | 1–5 | Suburban trains on the northern lines |
| Sealdah Main | 6–14 | Long-distance and suburban trains |
| Sealdah South | 15–21 | Suburban trains towards the southern suburbs and South 24 Parganas |
If you are meeting someone or changing trains, agree on the section as well as the platform number. The North and South sections have separate entrances.
Trains at Sealdah
Long-distance services from Sealdah include Rajdhani, Duronto and Humsafar trains, along with many express trains to north Bengal, Bihar and beyond. The station's suburban network is one of the largest in the country. Rajdhani, Duronto and north-Bengal departures from Sealdah are listed on Railopedia's schedule page.
Reaching Sealdah
- Kolkata Metro Green Line: Sealdah metro station links the terminus with Esplanade and, through the under-river section, with Howrah.
- Road: city buses, taxis and app cabs operate from the station forecourt.
Navigating Sealdah's three sections
- Kolkata's other major terminus is Howrah (HWH) across the river. Many long-distance trains use only one of them, so check your ticket.
- Rush hours bring very heavy suburban crowds; reach long-distance platforms early.
- Suburban crowds peak at office hours; if you are catching a long-distance train, aim to arrive outside the rush.