Varanasi today
Varanasi Junction (station code BSB), known locally as Varanasi Cantt and historically as Banaras Junction, is the main railway station of Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and Hinduism's holiest. The station sits between the cantonment and the Chetganj area. It is run by the Northern Railway and handles about 400,000 passengers a day as of 2026, with nearly 300 trains passing through daily and 29 starting or ending here.
Varanasi through the years
The railway reached the Varanasi area in 1862, when the East Indian Railway's line from Howrah via Patna was completed. Its chief engineer, George Turnbull, directed the construction of the route. The line to Lucknow arrived in 1872, and the station counts that year as its opening. In 1887 the Malviya Bridge (originally the Dufferin Bridge) opened across the Ganges, linking Varanasi with Mughalsarai and joining the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway to the East Indian Railway's network.
In 2018 Varanasi was included in a list of 90 stations to be developed into world-class hubs, and it has since installed 600 kW of solar capacity, with more planned.
The first Vande Bharat
Varanasi has a special place in modern Indian railway history. In 2019, India's first Vande Bharat Express, the country's first indigenous semi-high-speed train set, was launched between New Delhi and Varanasi. Other notable trains starting here include the Mahamana Express and Rajdhani services.
Tracks and platforms at Varanasi
The station has 11 platforms plus platform 1A (with one more under construction) on 13 tracks, about 81 metres above sea level.
Varanasi's other stations
Varanasi is served by several stations, and many trains skip Varanasi Junction. Always check your ticket:
| Station | Code |
|---|---|
| Varanasi Junction (Cantt) | BSB |
| Banaras (formerly Manduadih) | BSBS |
| Varanasi City | BCY |
| Kashi | KEI |
| Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (Mughalsarai) | DDU |
Getting to Varanasi
- Road: autorickshaws, e-rickshaws and taxis to the ghats and the old city. The roads near the ghats are narrow and often closed to vehicles, so expect to walk the last stretch.
- Bus: the main city bus stand is close to the station.
- Nearby rail: Prayagraj Junction is a short journey to the west.
Arriving in Kashi
- Festivals such as Dev Deepawali and Mahashivratri, and the Sawan month, bring very large crowds; reach the station early.
- If your train arrives at DDU instead of BSB, allow time for the road journey across the Ganges into Varanasi.
- Vande Bharat and Mahamana Express departures from Varanasi Cantt are in our train timetable.