Lucknow Charbagh railway station

Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station लखनऊ चारबाग़ रेलवे स्टेशन لکھنؤ چارباغ ریلوے اسٹیشن
Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station
Location	Charbagh, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates	26°49′55″N 80°55′08″E / 26.832°N 80.919°E / 26.832; 80.919Coordinates: 26°49′55″N 80°55′08″E / 26.832°N 80.919°E / 26.832; 80.919
Elevation	123.500 metres (405.18 ft)
Owned by	Indian Railways
Line(s)	Varanasi–Lucknow line Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow line Varanasi-Sultanpur-Lucknow line Lucknow-Kanpur Suburban Railway Barabanki–Lucknow Suburban Railway Lucknow–Moradabad line Lucknow-Gorakhpur line
Platforms	9 (platform 10,11 under construction )
Tracks	26
Connections	Central Bus Station, Taxi Stand, Auto Stand
Construction
Structure type	Standard on-ground station
Parking	Available
Bicycle facilities	Available
Disabled access	Lucknow NR
Architect	J.H. Hornimen
Other information
Station code	LKO
Fare zone	Northern Railway, Lucknow NR railway division
History
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway / East Indian Railway Company
Traffic
Passengers	5,50,000 approx
Services

Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station (official name Lucknow NR, station code LKO) is one of the two main railway stations of Lucknow city for broad gauge trains. It is situated at Charbagh in the south of the city, hence the popular name. The words 'Char Bagh' refer to the four gardens which existed here earlier.^[1] Lucknow city is well connected with all metro and other important cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu Tawi, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur and Bhopal either by Lucknow Charbagh(N.R.) or by Lucknow Junction(N.E.R.). The terms "Lucknow Charbagh railway station" and "Lucknow NR station" are used for the same railway station LKO. This is one of the busiest railway stations of India. More than 85 passenger trains originate from here and more than 300 trains pass from the station.

Lucknow Charbagh railway station (LKO)

Built on a raised plinth, it has a rectangular ground plan with projecting porticos. There are several towers and clusters of circular Awadhi domes. The wide, raised platforms have several halls and rooms for official purposes.

Lucknow Charbagh railway station (LKO) is operated by Lucknow Division of Northern Railway. Trains operated mainly by Northern Railway terminate at or pass through this station. It is also the main hub for the Lucknow-Kanpur Suburban Railway system (MEMU). It has nine platforms. As of 20 July 2016, more than 320 trains (or 146 pairs of trains) (including 1 Duronto, 2 Rajdhani, 1 Shatabdi, 46 Superfast trains i.e. 23 pairs of superfast trains, 3 Garib Raths and 142 i.e. 71 pairs of express trains ) and 28 slow passenger trains (or 14 pairs of trains including MEMU and DEMU) started from, terminated at or passed through LKO station.^[2]

The Charbagh railway station building's foundation stone was laid in 1914 and the building was completed in 1923.A major role in its design and planning was carried out by Chaubey Mukta Prasad, a counsulting engineer for Ms Lanebrown and Hulett. It has a large garden in front of the building. It incorporates the mix of Rajput, Awadhi and Mughal architecture and has a palatial appearance. A unique feature of the Charbagh railway station is that an aerial view of the station building shows it as a chess board and the domes and pillars of the building appear to be pieces of a chess game.^[3] Architecturally, it is considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in India.^[4] The Government Railway Police station at Lucknow's Charbagh railway station holds an ISO 9001 certificate.^[5]

History of Lucknow Charbagh railway station (LKO)

Charbagh Station, the major railway station of Lucknow, is an architectural masterpiece. The ostentatious structural design of Charbagh Railway Station enthrals a tourist at the onset. Built at a whooping price of Rs. 70 lakhs, it was designed by J.H. Hornimen. The foundation of the Charbagh Railway Station was placed by the Bishop, in March 1914 ^[6] The Lucknow division is headed by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). on 23 April 1867, the 47 mile Lucknow-Kanpur section was opened for traffic. This became part of the Oudh Rohilkhand Railway. The present Lucknow division, in 1925 was part of East Indian Railway till 1952. It caters to the Rail transport requirement of the most populous state of the country, serving 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh, with a total route of 1458.94 km, through 194 stations.

Lucknow's Charbagh Railway Station, till 1867, was a large orchard. The present Station building was constructed in 1926 with domes and minars of Saracan design, intended to harmonise with the architecture peculiar to the important historical buildings to the city which date to the days of the Nawabs of Oudh. The building constructed in red brick has a frontage of long verandahs adorned with Mughal arches.^[7]

Lucknow Junction (LJN) NER

The adjacent and almost contiguous railway station, officially known as Lucknow Junction railway station or Lucknow Jn NER (station code LJN), is unofficially considered a part of Charbagh railway stations. Colloquially, it is known as "Chhoti Line", historically it harboured NE Railways' Meter Gauge trains of erstwhile Izzatnagar Division, now falls under Lucknow Division of NE Railway. It is the terminus station for broad gauge trains of North Eastern Railway just like Howrah, Chennai Central and Mumbai CST. Therefore, trains that enter this station have to reverse their direction to get out of the station even if the train's destination is beyond Lucknow. It is a separate building, with a distinct identity with red sandstone, but almost a continuation of the main LKO (Northern Railways) station building.

Lucknow JN or LJN station has six platforms. The platform no.6 is accessible to the two wheelers, auto rikshaws and cars through an underpass cabway. This cabway is third cabway of Indian Railway after Howrah and Gorakhpur railway stations.

As of 1 May 2016, more than 160 express trains (or 23 pairs of Mail/Express trains), 28 Superfast Trains, 1 pair of Shatabdi, 3 pairs of Garib Rath express and 18 slow passenger trains started from, terminated at or passed through LJN station.^[8]

Earlier Lucknow junction was the terminus for metre gauge trains as almost all tracks of North Eastern Railway zone were metre gauge. With the conversion of most of these tracks to 1676 mm broad gauge under project Unigauge, the Lucknow junction does not have any metre gauge tracks. Now the terminus for the remaining metre gauge trains is Lucknow Aishbagh junction (station code ASH). Lucknow Aishbagh junction also has broad gauge tracks.

Panoramic view of Lucknow station

Railway projects in the city

Aishbagh junction terminal

this project was started on 1st May along with gauge conversion from meter to broad from very same sstation to pilibhit. In this project railway will develop this station as terminal for many northwest and north bound trains(from Delhi, sitapur, pilibhit, tanakpur, shahjahanpur, behraich, mailani, lalkuan, kathgodam. Seven platforms are under construction with a washing pit line and loop line along with an entirely new large station building and dual entrance.

Gauge Conversion

this project started on 15th May 2016 . Under this project meter gauge lines from lucknow to Tanakpur will be converted to broad gauge under three phases, where first phase will be finished by January 2017.

Aishbagh - Manaknagar bypass

under this project a one kilometer rail track will be constructed from Aishbagh station to Manak nagar through RDSO area of the city so that long distance trains fro Gorakhpur will directly pass from Aishbagh to Manak nagar without going to Lucknow Junction and thus avoiding the time loss in engine reversal.

Gomti Nagar Terminal

Under this project NER will develop a world class railway station at Gomti nagar . Six platforms will be made here . This station will act as terminal for North and Northeast bound trains (like for Delhi, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Balrampur, etc.)

Utrahtia - Alam nagar bypass doubling

the Alamnagar - Utrahtia Bypass will be doubled and made fit for passenger traffic.

Transportnagar Railway station

NR will develop a major railway station with at least 6 platforms on Alam nagar - Utrahtia route .This station will reduce traffic on charbagh railway station by handling trains from Raibareli, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Jaunpur, Zafrabad,Hardoi, Delhi,Moradabad,etc. Many trains will originate and terminate here. NR has already submitted the details regarding the station to railway committee. Although the blue-print is yet not made but construction will start within few months.

Charbagh Station Extension

NR will develop 5 platforms at Charbagh station out of which two will be on loco section side. NR will make a railway station building with many facilities on loco side . A new 26 coach washing line will also be made .

Circular train

Honorable Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji has announced that a local train just like that of Mumbai will run on Aishbagh-lucknow city-daliganj- badshahnagar- gomtinagar- malhour-juggaur-malhour-dilkusha –gwarigaon- Charbagh route to ease the pressure on the roads. The reports are already submitted and date for starting the project will soon be announced.

ASH- MAL doubling and electrification

NER will double and electrify the rail track from Aishbagh to Malhour via Rakabganj to increase the speed of trains on this route.

Utrahtia - Zafrabad new rail link

NR will make a new rail link between Zafrabad and Utrahtia to create another optional rail route between Varanasi and lucknow.

Utrahtia junction terminal

If the passenger pressure continued to increase NR will create a terminal railway station at Utrahtia to ease rail traffic at Charbagh station. It will be sixth major railway station in city. ^[9][10]

Connectivity

Lucknow Charbagh Railway station is connected to the city via all types of public transports. UPSRTC buses are available for the station through all major intersection.

Metro

The station is also proposed as an intersection for Lucknow Metro routes i.e. North-South Corridor and East-West Corridor. It will be a terminal station for East-West Corridor.

Terminal stations in Lucknow district

There are 6 terminal stations(where train starts and terminate ),within the district boundaries serving different parts of new and old city.They are-

• Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station
• Lucknow Junction railway station
• Aishbagh Junction railway station
• Daliganj junction railway station
• Badshahnagar railway station
• Gomti Nagar railway station(Gomti Nagar Terminus)

Trains from Lucknow NR (LKO)

About more than 300 trains start from, terminate at or pass through LKO station. Some of the trains departing or arriving at Lucknow Charbagh railway station (LKO) are listed below.

Destination board of Lucknow Mail

Trains from Lucknow Junction NE (LJN)

About 100 fast trains start from, terminate at or pass through LJN station. Some of the trains departing or arriving at Lucknow NER railway station (LJN) are listed below.

Trains from Daliganj Junction NE (DAL)

one passenger train originates and one terminates at this station.

Trains from Badshah nagar NE (BNZ)

one Exp train originates and one terminates at this station.

Trains from Gomti nagar NE (GTNR)

Two express trains originate/terminate at this station.

EMU-MEMU-DEMU Services from Lucknow

Railway stations in Lucknow

Lucknow city and suburbs have many railway stations listed below.

See also

• Lucknow Junction railway station
• Aishbagh Junction railway station
• List of railway stations in India

References