Visakhapatnam railway station

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.

History
From 1893 to 1896, 1287 km 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, and Bengal Nagpur Railway's line to Cuttack was opened on 1 January 1899. In 1902, the company took over the 514 km-long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to Puri. The southern part was subsequently merged with Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.

Routes
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.

If a train is late, trains after it are stopped at Duvvada or Vizianagaram. 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.

Infrastructure
Visakhapatnam station's area is 103178 m2. 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.

Amenities
There are Wi-Fi facilities and a 'fun zone' for children. The east and west terminals are equipped with reservation counters.

Sheds
The Diesel Loco Shed at Visakhapatnam is the largest of Indian Railways, with a capacity to accommodate 300 diesel locomotives. The Electric Loco Shed can accommodate 297 locomotives.

Environmental work
Visakhapatnam has been named the cleanest railway station in the country by the Quality Council of India and earned a platinum rating for being environmentally friendly from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).