The station began operations in 1864 with a broad-gauge train from Calcutta. In 1873, the Rajputana State Railway laid a metre-gauge track connecting Delhi to Rewari and further to Ajmer, with metre-gauge train services from the station commencing in 1876.
The current building of Delhi Junction railway station was constructed in 1900 and opened to the public in 1903. Initially operating with just two platforms and serving around 1,000 passengers, the station has grown significantly over the years. It now handles over 350,000 passengers daily, with approximately 250 trains starting, ending, or passing through it every day.
In 1904, the Agra–Delhi railway line was inaugurated, establishing Delhi as a critical railway hub connected by six railway systems. The East Indian Railway, North-Western State Railway, and Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway made headways into Delhi from Ghaziabad, crossing the Yamuna River. The Delhi–Panipat–Ambala Cantonment–Kalka Railway extended northwards from Delhi, while the Rajputana–Malwa Railway passed through the Delhi district briefly on its way toward Gurgaon and Rewari Junction.1]
Old Delhi railway station was constructed using red stone to harmonise with the historic Mughal-era Red Fort located nearby. The original station building featured six clock towers, of which Tower 4 remains in use today as a water tank.
Old Delhi railway station served as the primary railway station of Delhi and a junction for four railway lines until the establishment of the New Delhi railway station in 1926, ahead of the inauguration of New Delhi in 1931. The original Agra–Delhi railway line passed through the area later designated for the hexagonal War Memorial (now India Gate) and Kingsway (now Rajpath) as part of New Delhi's city planning. To accommodate this, the East Indian Railway Company realigned the tracks to run along the Yamuna River, completing the new route in 1924.
The station underwent remodelling in 1934–35, during which its platforms were extended, and power signals were introduced.[2 In the 1990s, a new entrance was added on the Kashmere Gate side, and additional platforms were constructed. The platforms were renumbered in September 2011, with the sequence starting from the main entrance as Platform 1 and ending at Platform 16 near the Kashmere Gate entrance. Some platforms were merged to form longer platforms capable of accommodating 24-coach trains.[4] The station building underwent another bout of renovation in 2012–13.
Delhi Junction previously handled both broad-gauge and metre-gauge trains. However, since 1994, it has been exclusively a broad-gauge station, with metre-gauge traffic shifted to Delhi Sarai Rohilla station.[5]
In 2016, plans were made to install a 2.2 MW rooftop solar project at the...
Read moreNearest Metro Station: The nearest Delhi Metro station to Old Delhi Railway Station is "Chandni Chowk Metro Station." It's located on the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro network and provides easy access to the railway station.
Old Delhi Railway Station, officially known as Delhi Junction (DLI), is one of the oldest and busiest railway stations in Delhi, India. It has a rich historical significance and serves as a major transportation hub connecting Delhi to various parts of the country. Here's some information about it:
Historical Significance: Old Delhi Railway Station was built during the British colonial era and was originally known as "Old Delhi Railway Station" to distinguish it from the New Delhi Railway Station, which was constructed later. The station has witnessed many historical events and is an important landmark in the city.
Connectivity: Delhi Junction is well-connected to major cities in India, including Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and more. It also serves as a hub for trains heading towards North India and various parts of the Indian subcontinent.
Famous Locations near Old Delhi Railway Station: Red Fort (Lal Qila): This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an iconic historical monument and a major tourist attraction. It's known for its stunning red sandstone architecture and its significance in India's history.
Jama Masjid: Located near the Red Fort, Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. It's a remarkable example of Mughal architecture and offers a panoramic view of Old Delhi from its minarets.
Chandni Chowk: This bustling market area is famous for its vibrant street food, traditional shops, and a wide variety of goods, including clothing, jewelry, and electronics.
Raj Ghat: A memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, where he was cremated. It's a serene place for reflection and pays homage to the great leader.
Kinari Bazaar: This market is known for its wedding and festive shopping. You can find a wide range of traditional clothing, jewelry, and decorations here.
Spice Market (Khari Baoli): As one of Asia's largest spice markets, it's a sensory delight with an array of spices, herbs, and dried fruits on display.
Old Delhi Railway Station and its surroundings are a vibrant blend of history, culture, and commerce, making it an intriguing destination for both tourists and...
Read moreOverall Station is quite Clean, platforms are well maintained. 1 to 6 platforms are on one side of the station. Trains to all over India are available from here. Best thing is at Chandani chowk Metro Station is located at the extreme end , just after exiting from Platform number 1. Never hire a auto or taxi from here. Autowalas charges too high in comparison to Uber/Ola etc. Never leave your luggage or any other valuable items here and there, this area and station is full of thieves, pickpockers etc. AC- waiting rooms are also available, along with other facilities like IRCTC Food lounge etc.
About Station :
Oldest junction of the capital city is – Old Delhi railway station. In 1864 the junction was built when railway from Calcutta start running to Delhi, the junction is located nearby Chandani chowk. Very beautifully constructed, colored with brick red and the entry gate has been shaped like fort. The junction always have rush of people so government has arranged a large number of security facility here.In between New Delhi railway station was built, around 60 years ago.
Facilities at DLI ? Transports are also easily available here like you can get Delhi Metro right nearby station other than this all other way of transportation available here. Other than basic facilities like toilets, bathrooms, food stalls, magazine centers lots of other facilities are also available at Old Delhi junction like cloak room facility, waiting rooms, left luggage facility and many more. Not only this but also a large number of food outlets available nearby station like TravelKhana and many more from where you can order your foods and enjoy your journey. Delhi is a tourism loving spot so government has arranged a lot of beneficial services for guest and local travelers as well, if you have any problem you can easily contact to security person.
Where to Visit Nearby Delhi Railway Station? If you have some spare time then don’t miss the buzzing markets like Chor Bazaar, ChhattaChowk, Daryaganj Book Market and NaiSarak. Along with this if you want to take a religious tour then you can visit Sri Digambar Jain LalMandir, Jama Masjid, Gurujwara Shish Ganj, Sunerhri Masjid and Gauri...
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