Ankleshwar railway station

Ankleshwar railway station
Name	Ankleshwar
Code	AKV
Country	India
Line	Mumbai–Vadodara–Ahmedabad section
Elevation	18m
Opened	1860s
Owned	Indian Railways
Operator	Western Railway zone
Status	Functioning

Ankleshwar railway station is a railway station on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor's conventional Mumbai–Vadodara–Ahmedabad section managed by the Western Railway zone of Indian Railways. Situated in the industrial township of Ankleshwar in Bharuch district, Gujarat, it serves passenger and freight movements linking Mumbai and Ahmedabad and forms part of regional connectivity that includes nodes such as Vadodara Junction, Surat railway station, Bharuch Junction, and Vapi railway station.

Introduction

The station operates under the jurisdiction of the Vadodara railway division and handles express, passenger, and commuter services connecting metropolitan centers such as Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad Junction, Surat railway station, and intercity links to Vadodara Junction and Bharuch Junction. Its strategic position supports adjacent industrial corridors tied to Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Ankleshwar Industrial Association, and logistics networks serving ports including Hazira Port and Jakhau Port.

Location and Layout

Located near National Highway 48 in Ankleshwar town, the station lies on the mainline that connects Churchgate-direction traffic via Vasai Road and Borivali toward Mumbai Central. The at-grade station comprises three platforms and five tracks with standard on-ground structures reminiscent of other regional stations such as Surendranagar Junction and Nadiad Junction. Adjacent rail infrastructure includes marshalling yards and sidings that interface with freight terminals similar to facilities at Vadodara Diesel Loco Shed and Surat Railway Workshop.

History

The line serving the station was developed during the 19th century expansion of railways in western India by antecedent companies that later merged into Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway. The station's growth paralleled industrialization initiatives led by entities like the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation and municipal developments of Bharuch district. Over decades, upgrades mirrored national programs such as the Project Unigauge gauge standardization and national electrification drives administered by Railway Electrification Directorate under Indian Railways.

Services and Operations

Ankleshwar handles a mix of long-distance expresses, regional intercity trains, and suburban services that interlink with corridors serving Mumbai Central, Vadodara Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, and coastal hubs like Surat railway station. Rolling stock frequenting the station includes WAP-5 and WAP-7 electric locomotives operated by sheds at Vadodara Diesel Loco Shed and Ratlam Diesel Loco Shed, as well as newer EMU and MEMU services akin to those on the Western Railway suburban network. Freight operations serve petrochemical consignments tied to nearby plants and connect to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor proposals.

Facilities and Amenities

Passenger amenities at the station are comparable to facilities found at other Western Railway stations such as Bharuch Junction and include sheltered platforms, booking counters, automated announcement systems similar to implementations at Vadodara Junction, and basic waiting areas paralleling provisions at Anand Junction. Additional services include parking areas, rickshaw stands, and linkage to regional bus services operated by Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation. Safety and operational systems follow standards adopted by Railway Protection Force and signalling systems integrated with the Centralised Traffic Control practices.

Connectivity and Transport Links

Ankleshwar station connects with regional road and rail arteries that integrate with national and state networks including NH48, rail links to Surat railway station and Vadodara Junction, and feeder bus routes to industrial zones administered by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation and local municipal bodies of Bharuch district. Nearby transport hubs include the Ankleshwar Airport proposal sites and maritime logistics at Hazira Port and Jamnagar Port for multimodal freight transfers. Commuter interchange options mirror patterns at transit nodes like Vasai Road and Nalasopara.

Future Developments and Projects

Planned upgrades affecting the station relate to broader infrastructure projects such as alignments on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, capacity enhancements under the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India initiatives, and electrification and signalling modernization driven by Railway Electrification Directorate and Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO). Proposals also consider expansion of platforms and yard remodeling to accommodate increased suburban services comparable to expansion schemes executed at Vadodara Junction and Surat railway station.

Category:Railway stations in Bharuch district Category:Western Railway stations