Siliguri: Encyclopedia II - Siliguri - Transport

Siliguri - Transport

Local public transport include city buses, cycle rickshaws and tempos.

Siliguri has three important railway stations:

1. Siliguri Town - This is the oldest station in the area. Opened on 23 Aug, 1880 during the British Raj, this station used to be the terminus for the trains coming from Calcutta, and the starting point for the world-famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for journey to Darjeeling.

2. Siliguri Junction - This station opened in 1949, and used to be the point of departure of all trains to the north-eastern states, until the broad gauge was extended to Dibrugarh.

3. New Jalpaiguri - Opened in 1961 as a totally greenfield project 16km south of Siliguri, this is now the most important station in the region. This station connects Siliguri to every nook and corner of the country and is the only station in India with all the three gauges of tracks. The city has expanded and touched New Jalpaiguri such that it seems to be a seamless single city.

With the extension of broad-gauge railway track to the Siliguri Junction station, people can now travel directly to the heart of the city without having to alight at New Jalpaiguri. This new broad-gauge track covers the old Dooars metre-gauge track, and is a beautiful journey passing as it is through the foothills of the Bhutan hills and picturesque little hamlets and villages with the famous Dooars tea gardens for company.

Bagdogra airport, situated about 12 km away is the closest airport. The airport is well connected to most Indian cities including the state capital Calcutta. A regular helicopter service links Siliguri to Gangtok.

The Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminal is a major stop for most buses in the region. The Royal Government of Bhutan also operates buses from Siliguri to the Bhutanese capital Thimphu. Jeeps also link Siliguri to neighbouring towns. SImilarly the Sikkim government's buses run to Sikkim from the SNT bus station opposite the Central Bus Terminal.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Transport", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki