Ambikapur railway station is a railway station serving the city of Ambikapur, the administrative headquarters of Surguja district in the northern part of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It functions as a terminal station on a branch line of the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone of the Indian Railways.
| Station name | Ambikapur railway station |
|---|---|
| Location | Ambikapur, Surguja district, Chhattisgarh |
| Country | India |
| Operator | Indian Railways |
| Zone | South East Central Railway |
| Line | Anuppur–Ambikapur branch line |
| Station type | Terminal |
| Track gauge | Broad gauge (1,676 mm) |
Ambikapur is situated on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in the Surguja region, an area historically associated with the former princely state of Surguja. The town lies in the northern tip of Chhattisgarh, close to the borders with Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. The railway station provides one of the principal modes of long-distance public transport for the largely tribal-populated district, complementing road links along National Highway 43 (now part of the renumbered NH-130).
The station is the northern terminus of the branch line that connects Ambikapur to Anuppur Junction in Madhya Pradesh, via intermediate stations including Bishrampur and Surajpur Road. From Anuppur, the line links into the broader Bilaspur–Katni route, providing onward connections to major centres such as Bilaspur, Katni, Jabalpur and beyond.
The Anuppur–Ambikapur line was developed primarily to serve the coal-bearing belt of the Surguja and adjoining Korea districts, where collieries operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, generate substantial freight traffic. Coal loading at sidings along the route has historically formed an important part of the line's revenue. The line was later electrified as part of the broader programme of electrification of branch routes within the SECR zone.
Ambikapur is served by passenger and express services that originate or terminate at the station, including links to Bilaspur, Durg, and—via through services—destinations in northern and western India. The station handles a mix of passenger traffic, mail/express services, and goods traffic associated with the regional coal industry.
As the only railway station of significance in Surguja district headquarters, Ambikapur station plays an important role in the mobility of residents of a predominantly rural and tribal region. It also serves pilgrims and tourists visiting sites in the Surguja area, including the Mainpat plateau and religious centres in the surrounding districts.