| Visakhapatnam Junction | |
| Type: | Regional rail, Light rail & Goods railway station |
| Style: | Indian Railways |
| Address: | Gnanapuram, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-530004 |
| Country: | India |
| Elevation: | 5.97m (19.59feet) |
| Line: | Howrah–Chennai main line Visakhapatnam–Kirandul line Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section of Howrah–Chennai main line |
| Structure: | Standard on-ground |
| Parking: | Available |
| Platform: | 8 |
| Tracks: | 10 |
| Electrified: | Yes |
| Accessible: | Available |
| Owned: | Indian Railways |
| Operator: | South Coast Railway Zone |
| Status: | Active |
| Map Type: | India Visakhapatnam |
| Map Dot Label: | Visakhapatnam Junction |
| Map State: | collapsed |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Caption: | Interactive map |
Visakhapatnam Junction (station code: VSKP) is an important railway station located in Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It has eight platforms with 508 trains passing by everyday. It is on the Howrah–Chennai main line and is being operated by East coast Railway. It may be administered under the South Coast Railway zone by Indian Railways after some time. Originally named the Waltair railway station, it was founded in 1896. It was renamed as Visakhapatnam junction in 1987.
From 1893 to 1896, 12870NaN0 of track, covering the coast from Cuttack to Vijayawada, were built by Bengal Nagpur Railway (later South Eastern Railway). The station was founded as Waltair railway station in 1896,[1] [2] and Bengal Nagpur Railway's line to Cuttack was opened on 1 January 1899. In 1902, the company took over the 5140NaN0-long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to .[3] The southern part was subsequently merged with Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.
Visakhapatnam has been a busy station since it was part of the East Coast Railway zone to today. Platforms are not always available for incoming trains, and the average train's halt period is at least 20 minutes.[4]
If a train is late, trains after it are stopped at or .[5] The Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) system is an arrangement of signal apparatus, preventing conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. It is a cause for trains being delayed after they pass through Duvvada.
Over 5,000 people per day travel between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad, which are connected by over 18 trains, including the newly inaugurated Visakhapatnam - Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express. Another route, the Godavari Express of the South Central Railway, passes into Visakhapatnam.
Visakhapatnam station's area is 103178m2.[6] There are eight platforms, most of which are the same size, and all of the tracks are broad-gauge and electrified.
The station features escalators and a bus station. A majority of platforms are wheelchair-friendly and accessible via ramp.
Over 200 employees work in the station.[6]
There are Wi-Fi facilities and a 'fun zone' for children.[7] The east and west terminals are equipped with reservation counters.
The Diesel Loco Shed at Visakhapatnam is the largest of Indian Railways, with a capacity to accommodate 300 diesel locomotives.[8] The Electric Loco Shed can accommodate 297 locomotives.
Visakhapatnam has been named the cleanest railway station in the country by the Quality Council of India[9] and earned a platinum rating for being environmentally friendly from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).[10]