Travelling by train is one of the delights of India, although for longer trips it is advisable to go first class and/or air conditioned. You can book tickets at major hotels and some travel agents (these invariably attract a booking fee), or directly from the central computerised booking office at 6 Fairlie Place, BBD Bagh (tel: (033) 2222 7282). Tourists can get tickets via the tourist quota; it gets crowded so start queuing early.

Trains are run by Indian Railways (website: www.indianrail.gov.in). If you plan to make many journeys, buy a copy of Trains at a Glance (available at most station news stands and some city bookshops) and also see www.seat61.com/India.htm for general information on train travel in the country. The Indrail pass, available in many countries, gives you unlimited travel for a certain period (for further details see www.indianrail.gov.in and click on the Information/International Tourist link).

There are two train stations in the city. Howrah Junction, south of Howrah Bridge (the new official spelling is Hoara Bridge) on the western side of the river, has the most connections to the rest of the country. Although just a few kilometres north of the BBD Bagh area of the city, allow plenty of time for your taxi to get to the station as traffic can be severely congested in this part of town. The journey along Howrah Bridge over the river (the busiest in the world) is an unforgettable sight. Sealdah Station, Bepin Behari Ganguly Street, just east of AJC Bose Road, connects the city with the northeast.