Sealdah Station (Bengali: শিয়ালদহ স্টেশন Shiyāldoho Sṭeshon, IR code: SDAH) is a major railway station of Kolkata in India. The core of the extensive Kolkata Suburban Railway, Sealdah is also served by over 70 long-distance trains from other parts of the country.

Understand

Sealdah (SHEE-ahl-dah) is one of India's largest rail complexes with 21 platforms. It is also India's second-busiest station with more than 400 million people using it every year. The station is in North Kolkata amid the city's chaos.

Sealdah is a major hub of the Kolkata Suburban Railway across the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, from Lalgola to Namkhana. In addition to nearly 650 suburban trains, Sealdah is also served by over 50 express trains from different parts of India, including the famous Darjeeling Mail that used to be the go-to for North Bengal. Bridges like the Vivekananda Setu, the Jubilee Bridge (later the Sampreeti Setu) and the Nashipur Rail Bridge are the essential links that connect the station to the rest of India.

History

The name "Sealdah" is said to be a corruption of the name Shrigāldwīp (শৃগালদ্বীপ), meaning "Jackal Island". Sealdah was one of the villages the East India Company (EIC) obtained from Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar in 1717.

Sealdah Station was opened on 2 December 1862 as part of the Calcutta–Kushtia railway line. At the time, Sealdah consisted of four platforms with a tin-roofed room. Other than Kushtia, the station also had trains to Canning and Ranaghat. The present building was designed by architect Walter Glanville, and was opened in 1869.

In the early 1940s, Sealdah was served by trains from different parts of East Bengal and Assam. In 1947, East Bengal became part of Pakistan, which led to a surge of trains full of Hindu refugees from East Bengal to Kolkata. After that, East Bengal (later East Pakistan) was served by three express trains from Sealdah till 1965: East Bengal Express to Goalundo Ghat, East Bengal Mail to Parbatipur and Barisal Express to Khulna.

By that time, Sealdah evolved from a major terminal of East Bengal and Assam trains to the core of the Kolkata Suburban Railway.

Sealdah was also served by horse-drawn trams, and later electric trams. However, the tram terminus was closed in 1981 due to the construction of the Vidyapati Setu flyover. Nonetheless, there were other tram services around Sealdah until 2019 in excuse of damaging the flyover.

The metro station was planned as early as 1971, and was opened to the public on 11 July 2022.

Visitor information

• Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway

Services

Sealdah Station at night

Sealdah Station is served by both the broad-gauge Eastern Railway (ER) as well as the standard-gauge Kolkata Metro. The ER is divided into four sections:

• Sealdah North  SDAH North : Consists of the Sealdah–Gede line, as well as the branch lines to Bandel, Bangaon, Lalgola and Santipur.
• Sealdah Main  SDAH Main : Consists of the Sealdah–Bangaon line, as well as a branch line to Hasnabad.
• Sealdah South  SDAH South : Consists of the Sealdah–Ballygunge line, which branches into Budge Budge and Sonarpur lines. At Sonarpur, it further branches into Canning, Diamond Harbour and Namkhana lines.
• CC Link  CCL : Consists of the Sealdah–Dankuni line.

The broad-gauge railways terminate at one of the following terminals, with platform numbers in brackets:

• 1 Sealdah North (1–5) (শিয়ালদহ উত্তর Shiyāldoho Uttor). For Sealdah North locals from Barrackpore, Bardhaman, Gede, Kalyani, Krishnanagar, Lalgola, Naihati, Ranaghat and Santipur. Accessible from both the North Gate and the Prafulla Dwar gate. (updated Aug 2026)
• 2 Sealdah Main (6–10) (শিয়ালদহ মেইন Shiyāldoho Mein). For Sealdah Main locals from Bangaon, Barasat, Dattapukur, Habra, Hasnabad and Thakurnagar, as well as CC Link locals from Baruipara and Dankuni. (updated Aug 2026)
• 3 Sealdah Central (11–14) (শিয়ালদহ মধ্য Shiyāldoho Modhyo). For long-distance trains. Its exit is directly towards the Prepaid Taxi Stand. (updated Aug 2026)
• 4 Sealdah South (15–21) (শিয়ালদহ দক্ষিণ Shiyāldoho Dokhyiṇ). For Sealdah South locals from Baruipur, Budge Budge, Canning, Diamond Harbour, Kakdwip, Lakshmikantapur, Namkhana and Sonarpur, as well as Circular Railway locals from BBD Bagh. (updated Aug 2026)

Metro

• 5 Sealdah Metro  2  (code: SDHM). It is served by the Green Line only, which connects Sealdah to Esplanade and Howrah. The line has attracted tourists due to the underwater tunnel segment under Hooghly River, which is indicated by dense blue LED lights in the tunnel. (updated Jul 2026)

Local transportation

By bus

• 6 Beliaghata Main Road - NRS Hospital . Served by city buses, including minibuses. (updated Jul 2026)

By car

There are multiple ways to get into the station, but the easiest and the most common way is via Beleghata Main Road. Take Beleghata Main Road from AJC Bose Road or APC Road, and then take the station road identified with a mini Big Ben replica. The 7 Parking Lot is at the end of the station lot.

An alternative way is from Bowbazar via Bepin Bihari Ganguly Road (BB Ganguly Road). However, the intersection at APC Road is often teemed by hawkers and vendors at peak time.

By taxi

Sealdah's prepaid taxi stand is just outside the station's main entrance, covered by a large canopy. There used to be a queue at the taxi counter before it was effectively shut down in favour of the Yatri Sathi app, developed by West Bengal's IT department. The app is available on both Android and iOS.

Get around

On foot

The four parts of Sealdah Station are accessible within a single building. From Sealdah Main, walk northwest for "Sealdah North", and walk southeast for "Sealdah South". The metro station is at the Sealdah South side.

By BOV

You can take a battery-operated vehicle (BOV) within Sealdah Station to avoid walking long distances. It is particularly useful for people with disabilities.

Wait

Upper Class Waiting Room, Sealdah South

There is a large, covered waiting area inside the station for passengers awaiting connecting trains.

• Executive Lounge, 1F. Free Wi-Fi, showers, foods, newspapers, TV and cloakroom facilities available. It is next to the lift to make it accessible to wheelchair users. (updated Jul 2026)
• Upper Class Waiting Room, 1F. An AC waiting room and a resting area with bedroom facilities. (updated Jul 2026)

Eat and drink

Alcohols are not permitted to sell here due to the Indian Railways' broader anti-alcohol policy.

• Food Track.  (updated Jul 2026)
• Jan Ahaar (জন আহার Jon Āhār), GF. Both non-veg and veg available. Veg foods are cooked and served separately. (updated Jul 2026)

Buy

Several small stalls can be found around the station selling books. Like most Indian stations, there's a One Station One Product outlet at the station, selling local handicrafts.

Automatic teller machines (ATMs) of major banks are available at Sealdah Main and South terminals.

Connect

Like most railway stations, Sealdah has a free Wi-Fi service named RailWire. There are also some private telecom operators providing free Wi-Fi at the station.

Sleep

The nearest hotels are in Esplanade and North Kolkata districts.

Nearby

Kolkata is the obvious place to visit for travellers trapped here. With a rich colonial history and a unique cosmopolitan culture, it is hard to be bored in Kolkata.