Best Railway Station in India: Complete Updated List 2026

If you’ve been travelling by train in India for a long time, you already know that Railway Stations in India are getting better day by day. The facilities and amenities at these places are getting enhanced. However a question that is often discussed is: Which is the best railway station in India?

Railway stations used to be places you tolerated. You arrived early, kept your head down, found a corner, and waited. Comfort was optional. Cleanliness was unpredictable. Information mostly came from shouting or guessing. By 2026, that idea feels outdated at several major stations.

The meaning of the “best railway station in India” has shifted. It’s no longer about how many trains pass through or how big the station looks on paper. Today, passengers care about simpler things. Can you move easily? Is the platform readable? Can you sit without hunting for space? Does the station fall apart during rush hours?

A major factor in promoting these changes has been the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Under this scheme more than 1300 Railway Stations are upgraded with modern amenities and facilities. The idea isn’t cosmetic beauty but functioning. Stations are being treated as public spaces, places people actually spend time in.

With that context, here’s a grounded look at the best railway stations in India in 2026, based on how they function when real passengers use them.

How to Determine the Best Railway Station in India

The greatest challenge in determining the best railway station in India is its vagueness. “India’s Best railway station” is a subjective term and there is no direct metric to measure. However, we combined a number of factors that determine the efficiency and quality of Railway stations. Our rankings are based on the following criterias:

• Revenue Generation
• Cleanliness and Environment Sensitivity
• Amrit Bharat Station Standards
• Operational Size
• Safety

Why Railway Stations Feel Different in 2026

Money plays a role. It always does. But how the money is used matters more. For 2025–26, Indian Railways projected an operating ratio of 98.43%. That doesn’t mean the system is suddenly rich. It means spending is more controlled. Less waste. More long-term planning.

Capital expenditure crossed ₹2.65 lakh crore, and much of it went into things passengers actually notice over time: permanent station upgrades, track improvements, and machinery that reduces breakdowns.

Amenities also stopped being random. Instead of a new toilet block here and an escalator there, stations now receive grouped upgrades. When things are planned together, they last longer.

Freight revenue is around ₹1.88 lakh crore which quietly supports this entire ecosystem. Most passengers never think about freight trains, but without them, many station upgrades simply wouldn’t happen.

Safety and Sustainability: No Longer Optional Extras

By 2026, certain things are expected. Stations supporting the Kavach Automatic Train Protection system are seen as ready for the future. Those that don’t are already behind.

Environmental performance has also stopped being a PR line. Large stations are audited by the Indian Green Building Council. Solar panels, water reuse, LED lighting: these aren’t “green badges” anymore. They directly affect costs and maintenance. Stations that ignore this pay for it later.

Best Railway Stations in India (2026)

10. Chennai Central (MAS)

Chennai Central is ranked at number 10 in our list of top railway station in India. The official name of this railway station is Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station.

Its iconic clock tower and red-brick façade remain untouched. What’s changed is behind the scenes: better sanitation, smoother passenger flow, and integration with newer Vande Bharat sleeper services.

This station is one of the highest rated railway stations in the Southern Zone. The station’s strength is consistency. Chennai Central railway station has 17 platforms and handles around half a million passengers daily.

9. Secunderabad Junction (SC)

Secunderabad doesn’t seek attention .Ranked 9th in our list of top top railway station in India, this station is also a NSG-1 category railway station.NSG-1 is a category of railway stations that has more than ₹500 crore revenue and 20 million outward passengers annually. 

As the headquarters of the South Central Railway, it handles heavy operational traffic without visible disorder. Cleaning staff are present. Issues are addressed quickly. Platforms stay readable. The station blends its old structure with modern monitoring. Nothing fancy. Just reliable.

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8. Rani Kamalapati Railway Station (RKMP)

Rani Kamalapati Railway Station is the first private railway station in India. Formerly Habibganj, this station shows what happens when redevelopment doesn’t stop at inauguration. This railway station is built on the lines of Germany’s Heidelberg railway.

Built under a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model, Rani Kamalapati maintains separation between arrivals and departures which helps passengers. It is ranked high on green ratings and keeps commercial areas clean, and doesn’t allow systems to decay.

That consistency is why it keeps appearing on best-station lists year after year.

7. Surat Railway Station (ST)

Surat Railway Station is future-facing. As part of India’s high-speed rail corridor, the station completed bullet train trials by 2026, with speeds touching 320 kmph. Surat is famous for its diamond industry and the ₹980 crore redevelopment project is built around the diamond theme.

The station design prioritises openness. Skylights, wide platforms, and seamless links to buses and metro services make movement easy. Surat isn’t solving yesterday’s problems. It’s preparing for a volume that hasn’t arrived yet.

6. Ayodhya Dham Junction (AY)

Ayodhya Dham Junction is one of the most famous railway station in India. This station was constructed because the demand from pilgrims made it unavoidable. Redeveloped for around ₹240 crore, it is built to handle extraordinary religious footfall. The architecture mirrors the iconic temple in Ayodhya with a three storey architecture.

AC waiting areas, childcare rooms, local product kiosks, these aren’t luxuries when people wait for hours. With projected footfall nearing 50 crore annually, the station is less about daily travel and more about national movement. The station is also connected to four main paths such as Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path, Ram Path, and Dharma Path.

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5. Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru

Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru is ranked 5th in our list of top railway station in India. This station feels less like a railway station and more like an airport.

Built at ₹314 crore, it was designed to remove friction. Wide concourses. Clear information boards. Air-conditioning that actually covers the space.

The airport comparison isn’t accidental. Cab pickup zones, lounges, and structured circulation reduce stress, especially for long-distance travellers. For a big city like Bengaluru, the design of the station fits perfectly.

4. Jaipur Junction (JP)

Jaipur Junction has built its reputation slowly. It has ranked at the top for cleanliness on a number of surveys under the Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat initiative. This is the reason it has got the fourth spot in our list of top railway station in India.

It consistently scores above 930 in cleanliness audits, which is rare for a high-footfall station. Toilets stay usable. Platforms don’t degrade after inspections.

The station holds an IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) Platinum rating, but most passengers notice something simpler: things stay maintained. Solar power, rainwater harvesting, LED lighting all of it works quietly in the background.

The local artwork also helps in enhancing its beauty. It gives the station a unique identity in a very subtle way. .

3. Howrah Junction (HWH)

How can a list of the best railway station in India be ever complete without the mention of Howrah Junction. With 23 platforms, it is the largest station in India by platform count as well as area. On busy days, passenger numbers cross one million. At that scale, maintaining perfection is no easy feat.

Recent upgrades focus on clarity. Better signage. Bigger waiting halls. Smoother interchange with the Kolkata Metro. These aren’t glamorous changes, but they matter here more than anywhere else.

Howrah Junction in 2026 feels properly managed. For a railway station of this scale that alone is a massive achievement.

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2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is second on the list of India’s best railway station. CSMT has aged like a fine wine does, with grace and elegance. Completed in 1887, this railway station is built in the Victorian Gothic Revival style. You must have seen this railway station in movies related to Mumbai city. Such is the aura of this station that it has become synonymous with the identity of Mumbai city. 

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it can’t be redesigned freely. Yet, despite architectural limits, it handles suburban and long-distance traffic better than many newer stations. With 18 different platforms, CSMT is in fact the busiest railway station in India.

Regular commuters notice the disciplined organisation here. Platforms stay organised. Passenger movement is predictable. Cleanliness doesn’t collapse by evening.

Recent restoration work earned global awards such as the UNESCO Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award, but what matters more is the organisation of this station. Despite the architectural restrictions of its heritage and mindboggling passenger volume, this station has shined brightly in providing passengers reliance and organisation.

1. New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS): India’s best Railway Station

New Delhi Railway Station is India’s best railway station. It is a busy railway station which is constantly under movement and operation. Still, it has provided accommodations for a large number of passengers with plenty of amenities for free.

More than 5 lakh passengers move through it every day. Around 350 trains start, end, or pass through. Moreover this station is directly integrated with Delhi Metro system providing a seamless access to the passengers. That kind of passenger load might break the systems if they aren’t designed properly.

New Delhi Railway Station has successfully implemented the Yatri Suvidha Kendra model. Under this model, a permanent holding area for more than 7000 passengers has been established. There are more than 150 toilets, automated ticket vending machines as well as access to free RO purified water.

The recent developments on this station has connected it to the Delhi Metro which is a key to the natural integration of this station in the infrastructure of the national capital. NDLS ranked high in revenue as well. Annual revenue remains above ₹500 crore, which tells you how central this station is to the network.

Table: List of the 10 Best Railway Station in India

Closing Thoughts

What stands out across these stations isn’t luxury. It’s intentional. Indian Railways is slowly moving away from survival-mode infrastructure. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, redevelopment is becoming contextual, not copy-paste.

Regional identity is being respected. Passenger behaviour is being studied. Sustainability is becoming normal, not optional.

If this momentum holds, future debates about the “best railway station in India” won’t be about which place is tolerable. They’ll be about preference and passenger comfort.

FAQs for Best Railway Station in India

Q: How is the best railway station in India decided?
A: The best railway station in India is decided by a number of factors like Revenue Generation, Cleanliness, Environment Sensitivity, Amrit Bharat Station Standards, Operational Size and Safety.

Q: Which railway station has the best facilities in India?
A: New Delhi Railway Station has one of the best facilities in India with more than 300 toilets and a holding area for more than 7000 passengers. Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) is another railway station which has premium facilities like air-conditioned halls. 

Q: Are there airport-style railway stations in India?
A: Yes there are many airport-style railway station in India such as Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) and Rani Kamalapati Station (RKMP).

Q: Which is India’s best railway station?
A: New Delhi Railway Station is India’s best railway station.