Howrah is the oldest and busiest railway terminal in India, and this Howrah station guide covers the two things that confuse almost every arrival: which platform your train actually uses, and which exit gets you into the city fastest. The station is split into two complexes. The Old Complex (Terminal 1) holds platforms 1 to 15 and handles most suburban services and many older long-distance trains. The New Complex (Terminal 2) holds platforms 17 to 24 and takes a large share of newer mail and express services. Once you are off the train you have four realistic ways into Kolkata: the Green Line metro directly beneath the station, the ferry across the Hooghly from Howrah jetty, a yellow taxi or app cab from the forecourt, or a city bus from the adjoining terminus. For most central destinations, the metro is now the quickest and the least weather-dependent of the four.
Howrah Station Layout: Old Complex vs New Complex
The single most useful thing to know before you arrive is that Howrah is really two stations sharing one name, joined by a walkway and a shared forecourt.
- Old Complex (Terminal 1), platforms 1 to 15. The original heritage building with the big central hall. Most Howrah suburban locals leave from the lower-numbered platforms here, and a good number of long-distance trains still use it.
- New Complex (Terminal 2), platforms 17 to 24. Built later and set slightly to the south. Many premium and longer mail and express rakes use these platforms, partly because they are long enough for 24-coach formations. Platform 24 is the most recent addition.
There is no platform 16, which trips up a lot of first-timers looking for it between the two complexes. Walking from platform 1 to platform 24 with luggage takes real time, so check your platform number on the display boards or the National Train Enquiry System before you commit to a direction. If you are being dropped off, tell your driver "old complex" or "new complex" rather than just "Howrah station", because the two have separate approach roads.
Which Exit Should You Use at Howrah?
Howrah has several ways out, and picking the wrong one can add fifteen minutes of walking around the building.
- For the metro: follow signs for Howrah metro station from inside the terminal. There is a subway passage linking the railway complexes down to the metro concourse, so you do not need to step outside.
- For the ferry: head for the exit facing the river and the jetty. Subways connect the station side to the ferry ghat, which is safer than crossing the road traffic on foot.
- For taxis and app cabs: use the main forecourt exits. Yellow taxis queue on the approach lanes, and app cab pickup points are signposted separately.
- For buses: the bus terminus sits alongside the station on the city side, a short walk from the Old Complex exit.
The Fastest Way From Howrah Station Into Kolkata
Metro: usually the best option
Howrah metro station sits underneath the railway station on the Green Line (East-West Metro) and is the deepest metro station in India, at roughly 34 metres below ground across four underground levels. It opened in March 2024 along with India’s first under-river transport tunnel, which runs beneath the Hooghly between Howrah and Mahakaran.
Since through services began on the full Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V corridor in August 2025, you can ride straight from Howrah to Esplanade, Sealdah, Phoolbagan, Salt Lake Stadium and the Sector V IT belt without changing trains. End to end the run takes roughly 22 minutes. At Esplanade you can change to the Blue Line for Park Street, Kalighat, Tollygunge and the northern stretch towards Dakshineswar. If line-changing is new to you, our guide to Kolkata Metro interchange stations walks through the layout, and the broader complete Kolkata Metro guide covers lines, tickets and etiquette.
Fares on the network are modest, generally in the single-digit to low double-digit rupee range for typical city trips, but check the current fare chart at the counter or in the app rather than relying on an older figure. First and last train timings vary by line and by day, so confirm them on the official Metro Railway Kolkata site before planning a very early or very late journey.
Ferry: the cheapest and most scenic
The Howrah jetty sits directly opposite the station and connects to landing points on the Kolkata side including Fairlie Place, Armenian Ghat, Chandpal Ghat, Babughat and Bagbazar. Tickets are the cheapest of any option, crossings take only a few minutes, and you skip the bridge traffic entirely. Services run through the day into the evening rather than round the clock, so this is a daytime option. Timings and landing points shift with the river and the season, and our Hooghly ferry routes guide has the detail.
Taxi and app cabs
Yellow taxis still work the Howrah forecourt, and a prepaid arrangement has historically operated on the approach lanes off RBC Road under the local police commissionerate. In practice, a large share of passengers now book through the state-backed Yatri Sathi app or a private ride-hailing app, which removes the fare argument entirely. Expect surge pricing during evening peaks and heavy rain, and expect the Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu approaches to be slow at those times. For a sense of what a fair fare looks like before you accept a quote, see our auto and taxi fare guide by zone.
Bus
The Howrah bus terminus feeds a wide spread of city and suburban routes, including services towards the airport. Buses are cheap and frequent, but they are the slowest option in traffic and the hardest to manage with large suitcases. They make most sense if your destination is off the metro network and you are travelling light.
Sealdah Station: How It Differs From Howrah
Sealdah is Kolkata’s other giant terminal, and unlike Howrah it sits inside the city proper rather than across the river. It runs about 21 platforms arranged in three sections: Sealdah North, Sealdah Main and Sealdah South. Broadly, North and Main handle the northern and eastern suburban lines plus long-distance departures, while South serves the Diamond Harbour, Namkhana and Canning direction. Eastern Railway has restructured platform numbering here more than once, so read the boards on the day instead of trusting an old memory of the layout.
Sealdah also has its own Green Line metro station, which is what makes the Howrah to Sealdah hop so straightforward now: one train, no interchange, a handful of stops. That single connection has changed how people move between the two terminals, and it is far more predictable than a road transfer across the Hooghly. For which suburban services leave from where, our Kolkata local train guide breaks down both the Sealdah and Howrah divisions. Timetables and live running are on the Eastern Railway official site.
Using This Howrah Station Guide With Luggage or Late at Night
Two practical warnings. First, the metro concourse at Howrah is deep, and while there are escalators and lifts, moving heavy bags between four underground levels at peak hour is not pleasant. If you are carrying a lot, a cab from the forecourt may be worth the extra cost even though it is slower.
Second, the metro and the ferry both stop well before the small hours, while trains keep arriving at Howrah all night. If your train lands after roughly 11 pm, plan on an app cab or a yellow taxi, and share your trip status with someone. Our guide to late night transport in Kolkata covers what genuinely runs after 10 pm and what does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many platforms does Howrah station have?
Howrah has 24 platforms in total. Platforms 1 to 15 are in the Old Complex (Terminal 1) and platforms 17 to 24 are in the New Complex (Terminal 2). There is no platform numbered 16, so do not waste time looking for it.
Is there a metro station inside Howrah railway station?
Yes. Howrah metro station on the Green Line is built directly beneath the railway terminal and is linked to both complexes by an internal subway passage. It is the deepest metro station in India at around 34 metres, and it opened in March 2024.
How do I get from Howrah station to Sealdah station?
Take the Green Line metro from Howrah directly to Sealdah. Through services on the full corridor started in August 2025, so no interchange is needed and the ride is a short one. By road the same trip can take far longer depending on bridge traffic.
What is the cheapest way from Howrah station to central Kolkata?
The Hooghly ferry from Howrah jetty is the cheapest, with fares of a few rupees, and it drops you close to Dalhousie and BBD Bagh. City buses are the next cheapest. Both are daytime options, and the ferry does not run late in the evening.
Which is bigger, Howrah or Sealdah?
Howrah is larger by platform count, with 24 against Sealdah’s 21, and it handles more long-distance traffic. Sealdah carries an enormous suburban passenger load, so on a weekday morning it can feel busier despite the smaller footprint.
Can I leave luggage at Howrah station?
Cloakroom and locker facilities operate at Howrah, generally with a per-item daily charge and a requirement that bags are locked. Charges and opening hours change, so confirm at the counter on arrival rather than assuming a rate you read online.
