Shimla railway station

Shimla railway station (station code: SML[1]) is a railway station in Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The station is the terminus of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway. Shimla railway station is located at an altitude of 2,075 metres (6,808 ft) above mean sea level.[2] It was allotted the railway code of SML under the jurisdiction of Ambala railway division. The 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)-wide narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway was constructed by Delhi–Ambala–Kalka Railway Company and opened for traffic in 1903.[3]

Shimla railway station
Indian Railways station
Shimla Railway station view at dawn
General information
LocationNH 22, Nabha, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
India
Coordinates31°06′09″N 77°09′36″E / 31.1025°N 77.1601°E / 31.1025; 77.1601
Elevation2,075 metres (6,808 ft)
Owned byIndian Railways
Line(s)Kalka–Shimla Railway
Platforms2
Tracks4 (Narrow Gauge)
ConnectionsAuto stand
Construction
Structure typeStandard (on-ground station)
ParkingNo
Bicycle facilitiesNo
Other information
StatusFunctioning
Station codeSML[1]
Zone(s) Northern Railway
Division(s) Ambala
History
Opened1903
ElectrifiedNo
Part ofMountain Railways of India
CriteriaCultural: (ii)(iv)
Reference944ter-002
Inscription1999 (23rd Session)
Extensions2005, 2008
Area4.59 ha (11.3 acres)
Buffer zone500 ha (1,200 acres)
Coordinates31°06′09″N 77°09′35″E / 31.10250°N 77.15972°E / 31.10250; 77.15972
Shimla railway station is located in India
Shimla railway station
Location of Shimla railway station in India
Location
Shimla railway station is located in India
Shimla railway station
Shimla railway station
Location within India
Shimla railway station is located in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla railway station
Shimla railway station
Shimla railway station (Himachal Pradesh)

History

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The station opened in 1903.[4] Originally, the walls of the station building were made of wood with a sloping galvanised iron roof, but due to the growth in traffic it was rebuilt and extended in 1921 with a new double storey brick masonry (plastered in lime mortar) building housing the offices of the station master, staff and control, accident relief arrangements, waiting rooms, telegraph office and shelters.[2] After the roof over the platform collapsed in 1944 due to a heavy snowfall a new roof over the station building and platform was built.[4]

In 1986–87 the station was redeveloped with end-to-end platform shelters, while the platform was resurfaced and various services refurbished or rebuilt such as the tourist information office, railway telephone exchange, platform ticketing office, reservation office while 10 new retiring rooms (each having large windows providing a valley view) were installed and a waiting hall provided on the ground floor.[2]

Originating Trains

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The nearest railway station to Shimla is Kalka. You can take the Kalka to Shimla train route to reach Shimla which is one of India's most beautiful train routes.

Train No. Train Name Destination Departure Running Halts
01624 Shimla - Kalka Summer Special Kalka 09:20 All Days
52456 Himalayan Queen 10:40 Summer Hill, Jutgoh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Dharmpur Himachal
72452 Rail Motor 11:40 N.A.
52458 Shimla - Kalka Express 14:15 Summer Hill, Jutogh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kathleeghat, Kanoh, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Kumarhatti, Dharmpur Himachal, Sonwara, Koti, Gumman, Taksal
52460 Him Darshan Express 15:50 Barog
52452 Shivalik Deluxe Express 17:55 Barog
52454 Shimla - Kalka NG Express 18:35 Summer Hill, Jutogh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kathleeghat, Kanoh, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Kumarhatti, Dharmpur Himachal

References

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  1. ^ a b "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Kalka Shimla Railway (India) No 944 ter". UNESCO. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ^ Engineer journal article, circa 1915, reprinted in Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review, no. 75, July 2008
  4. ^ a b "About Shimla Town" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 5 December 2018.