How Indian Railway Halt Stations Are Different From Junctions

The Indian Railways, which are often referred to be a nation’s lifeblood, are essential to transportation. After the US, Russia, and China, India has the fourth-largest railway network in the world. Even though a lot of people have used railroad services, there are certain terms, like “halt station,” that are not well understood or are commonly overlooked. A recent Quora question attempted to explain what a halt station is and how it differs from other types of stops or intersections.

One Quora user claims that stop stations, which are distinguished by their modest size and absence of established signals, are included in the category of non-block stations. Passenger trains stop here for a short while in accordance with their timetable. Once the train guard gives the all-clear to proceed, the train does so.

Another user stated that stop stations are makeshift locations for passenger boarding and disembarkation on Indian Railways. These stations are usually maintained by contractors and have no authority over train operations. In accordance with orders from the closest major station, trains stop at these stations.

According to a Rail Restro study, halt stations are constructed for some passenger trains to make prearranged pauses. Trains stop at these stations in the case of a line blockage at the next station, and the length of their stay is often not prearranged. The trains continue on their journey as soon as the line is free. Notably, there are no signaling systems at standstill stations.

Junctions, on the other hand, are bigger terminals where trains come and depart from different places. Junctions function as links between different lines’ railway stations. By definition, a junction is a railroad station where at least three separate lines may intersect. To put it another way, a junction is created when three railroad lines come together at a certain station.

While junctions are large terminals that enable the convergence and divergence of trains from many places, halt stations are specialized sites for the planned stops of certain passenger trains.