Indian RailwaysFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis article is about the organisation. For general information on railways in India, see Rail transport in India.

[hide]This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may only interest a specific audience. (August 2015)This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. (August 2015)This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2015)

Indian Railways

"Lifeline to the Nation"

Type Public sector undertaking

Industry Railways

Founded 16 April 1853 (162 years ago)[1]

Headquarters New Delhi, India

Area served India (also limited service to Nepal,Bangladesh and Pakistan)

Key peopleSuresh Prabhakar Prabhu (Minister of Railways,

2014–)

Services Passenger railways

Freight services

Parcel carrier

Catering and Tourism Services

Parking lot operations

Other related services

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_lothttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_Serviceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_carrierhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Railways_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suresh_Prabhakar_Prabhuhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_sector_undertakinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_business_entityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiabilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_viewhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Fancrufthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IINFOhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Indian_Railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways

Revenue ₹1634.5 billion (US$25 billion) (2014–15)[2]

Profit ₹157.8 billion (US$2.4 billion) (2013–14)[2]

Owner Government of India (100%)

Number of employees 1.334 million (2014)[3]

Parent Ministry of Railways throughRailway Board (India)

Divisions 17 Railway Zones

Website www.indianrailways.gov.in

Indian Railways

Reporting mark IR

Locale India

Dates of operation 16 April 1853–Present

Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)

1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)

762 mm (2 ft 6 in)

610 mm (2 ft)

Headquarters New Delhi, India

Website www.indianrailways.gov.in

Indian Railways (reporting mark IR) is an Indian state-owned enterprise, owned and operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. It is one of the world's largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km (71,000 mi) of track over a route of 65,808 km (40,891 mi) and 7,112 stations.[4] In 2014-15, IR carried 8.397 billion passengers annually or more than 23 million passengers a day (roughly half of whom were suburban passengers) and 1058.81 million tons of freight in the year.[3] In 2014–2015 Indian Railways had revenues of ₹1634.50 billion(US$25 billion) which consists of ₹1069.27 billion (US$16 billion) from freight and ₹402.80 billion (US$6.1 billion) from passengers tickets.[2]

Railways were first introduced to India in the year 1853 from Mumbai to Thane. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unit, the Indian Railways, becoming one of the largest networks in the world. IR operates both long distance and suburban rail systems on a multi-gauge network ofbroad, metre and narrow gauges. It also owns locomotive and coach production facilities at severalplaces in India and are assigned codes identifying their gauge, kind of power and type of operation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_(rail)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suburban_rail_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Budget-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ReferenceB-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Railways_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-owned_enterprisehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporting_markhttp://www.indianrailways.gov.in/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_ft_and_600_mm_gauge_railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_foot_six_inch_gauge_railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporting_markhttp://www.indianrailways.gov.in/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_(business)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Board_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Railways_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parent_companyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ReferenceB-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Budget-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_incomehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Budget-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupee

Its operations cover twenty nine states and seven union territories and also provides limited international services to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Indian Railways is the world's seventh largest commercial or utility employer, by number of employees, with over 1.334 million employees as of last published figures in 2013 . As for rolling stock, IR holds over 245,267 Freight Wagons, 66,392 Passenger Coaches and 10,499 Locomotives(43 steam, 5,633 diesel and 4,823 electric locomotives).[5] The trains have a 5 digit numbering system and runs 12,617 passenger trains and 7421 freight trains daily.[6] As of 31 March 2013, 21,614 km (13,430 mi) (32.8%) of the total 65,808 km (40,891 mi) route length was electrified.[7]Since 1960, almost all electrified sections on IR use 25,000 Volt AC traction through overhead catenary delivery.

Contents [hide]

1 History

2 Organisational structure

3 Railway zones

o 3.1 Recruitment and training

4 Rolling stock

o 4.1 Locomotives

o 4.2 Goods wagons

o 4.3 Passenger coaches

o 4.4 Freight

5 Technical details

o 5.1 Track and gauge

o 5.2 Research and development

6 Links to adjacent countries

7 Types of passenger services

8 Accommodation classes

9 UNESCO world heritage sites

10 Notable trains

o 10.1 Tourist trains

o 10.2 Other trains

11 Problems and issues

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Problems_and_issueshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Other_trainshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Tourist_trainshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Notable_trainshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#UNESCO_world_heritage_siteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Accommodation_classeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Types_of_passenger_serviceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Links_to_adjacent_countrieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Research_and_developmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Track_and_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Technical_detailshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Freighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Passenger_coacheshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Goods_wagonshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Locomotiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Rolling_stockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Recruitment_and_traininghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Railway_zoneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Organisational_structurehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-indianrailways.gov.in-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ReferenceA-6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_car_(rail)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freight_rail_transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_stockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_stockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_by_employeeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_India

12 See also

13 References

14 Further reading

15 External links

History[edit]Main article: History of rail transport in India

India's first train run betweenBombay and Thane

The B.B. & C.I. Railway Head Offices, 1905

Extent of the railway network in 1909.

Indian Railways headquarters,Delhi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#External_linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Further_readinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#See_also

Robert-Maitland-Brereton

Map of the completed and planned railway lines in India in 1871, thirteen years after the end of Company rule.

The history of rail transport in India began in the mid-nineteenth century. The core of the pressure forbuilding Railways In India came from London. In 1848, there was not a single kilometre of railway line in India. The country's first railway, built by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR), opened in 1853, between Bombay and Thane.[8] A British engineer, Robert Maitland Brereton, was responsible for the expansion of the railways from 1857 onwards. The Allahabad-Jabalpur branch line of the East Indian Railway had been opened in June 1867. Brereton was responsible for linking this with the GIPR, resulting in a combined network of 6,400 km (4,000 mi). Hence it became possible to travel directly from Bombay to Calcutta. This route was officially opened on 7 March 1870and it was part of the inspiration for French writer Jules Verne's book Around the World in Eighty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Dayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Vernehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcuttahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Indian_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maitland_Breretonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Peninsula_Railway

Days. At the opening ceremony, the Viceroy Lord Mayo concluded that "it was thought desirable that, if possible, at the earliest possible moment, the whole country should be covered with a network of lines in a uniform system".[9]

By 1875, about £95 million were invested by British companies in India. Guaranteed railways. [10] By 1880 the network had a route mileage of about 14,500 km (9,000 mi), mostly radiating inward from the three major port cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By 1895, India had started building its own locomotives, and in 1896, sent engineers and locomotives to help build the Uganda Railways.

In 1900, the GIPR became a government owned company. The network spread to the modern day states ofAhom Kingdom, Rajputhana and Madras Presidency and soon various autonomous kingdoms began to have their own rail systems. In 1905, an early Railway Board was constituted, but the powers were formally vested under Lord Curzon.[11] It served under the Department of Commerce and Industry and had a government railway official serving as chairman, and a railway manager from England and an agent of one of the company railways as the other two members. For the first time in its history, the Railways began to make a profit.

In 1907 almost all the rail companies were taken over by the government. The following year, the first electric locomotive made its appearance. With the arrival of World War I, the railways were usedto meet the needs of the British outside India. With the end of the war, the railways were in a state ofdisrepair and collapse. Large scale corruption by British officials involved in the running of these railways companies was rampant. Profits were never reinvested in the development of British colonial India.[12]

In 1920, with the network having expanded to 61,220 km (38,040 mi),[13] a need for central management was mooted by Sir William Acworth. Based on the East India Railway Committee chaired by Acworth, the government took over the management of the Railways and detached the finances of the Railways from other governmental revenues.

The period between 1920 and 1929, was a period of economic boom; there were 41,000 mi (66,000 km) of railway lines serving the country; the railways represented a capital value of some 687 million sterling; and they carried over 620 million passengers and approximately 90 million tons of goods each year.[14] Following the Great Depression, the railways suffered economically for the next eight years. The Second World War severely crippled the railways. Starting 1939, about 40% of the rolling stock including locomotives and coaches was taken to the Middle East, the railways workshops were converted to ammunitions workshops and many railway tracks were dismantled to help the Allies in the war. By 1946, all rail systems had been taken over by the government.

Organisational structure[edit]

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_Warhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depressionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Mil_Engr_India_II-14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-corruption-12https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_colonial_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_colonial_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-11https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Curzonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_Presidencyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_Kingdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcuttahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Rungta1970-10https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days

Indian Railway zonal map.

Main article: Indian Railway organisational structure

Railway zones[edit]Further information: Zones and divisions of Indian Railways

Indian Railways is divided into 16 zones,[15] which are further sub-divided into divisions. The number of zones in Indian Railways increased from six to eight in 1951, nine in 1952 and seventeen in 2003.[16][17] Each zonal railway is made up of a certain number of divisions, each having a divisional headquarters. There are a total of sixty-eight divisions.[18][19]

Each zone is headed by a general manager, who reports directly to the Railway Board. The zones are further divided into divisions, under the control of divisional railway managers (DRM). The divisional officers, of engineering, mechanical, electrical, signal and telecommunication, accounts, personnel, operating, commercial, security and safety branches, report to the respective Divisional Manager and are in charge of operation and maintenance of assets. Further down the hierarchy treeare the station masters, who control individual stations and train movements through the track territory under their stations' administration.

Sr

Name

Abbr.

DateEstablished

Routekm

Headquarters Divisions Image

1 Southern SR14 April 1951 5098 Chennai

Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai andSalem,[20] Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram

2 Central CR5 November 1951

3905 Mumbai Mumbai CST, Bhusawal, Pune, Solapurand Nagpur

3 Western WR5 November 1951

6182 MumbaiMumbai Central, Ratlam, Ahmedabad,Rajkot, Bhavnagar , Indore,Surendranagar and Vadodara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadodarahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surendranagarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavnagarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajkothttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratlamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Centralhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Centralhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagpur_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solapur_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pune_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhusawal_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_CSThttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvananthapuram_Railway_divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Tamil_Naduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maduraihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruchirappalli_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Stats_2012-18https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-17https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-16https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divisions_of_Indian_Railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-15https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zones_and_divisions_of_Indian_Railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railway_organisational_structure

Sr

Name

Abbr.

DateEstablished

Routekm

Headquarters Divisions Image

4 Eastern ER14 April 1952 2414 Kolkata Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda Town

5 Northern NR14 April 1952 6968 Delhi

Delhi, Ambala, Firozpur, Lucknow,Moradabad and Udhampur

6North Eastern

NER 14 April 1952 3667 Gorakhpur Izzatnagar, Lucknow and Varanasi

7South Eastern

SER 1955 2631 Kolkata Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur andRanchi

8

Northeast Frontier

NFR15 January 1958

3907 Guwahati Alipurduar, Katihar, Rangia, Lumding andTinsukia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinsukiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumdinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katiharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alipurduarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guwahatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Frontier_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Frontier_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Frontier_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranchihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharagpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakradharpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adra_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucknowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzatnagarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorakhpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udhampurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udhampurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moradabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucknowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firozpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambalahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malda_Townhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asansolhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealdahhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howrahhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Railway_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Railway_(India)

Sr

Name

Abbr.

DateEstablished

Routekm

Headquarters Divisions Image

9South Central

SCR2 October 1966

5951 SecunderabadVijayawada, Secunderabad, Guntakal,Guntur, Hyderabad and Nanded

10East Central

ECR1 October 2002

3628 Hajipur Danapur, Dhanbad, Mughalsarai,Samastipur and Sonpur

11North Western

NWR1 October 2002

5459 Jaipur Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur

12 East CoastECoR

1 April 2003 2677

Bhubaneswar Khurda Road, Sambalpur andVisakhapatnam

13North Central

NCR 1 April 2003 3151 Allahabad Allahabad, Agra and Jhansi

14

South East Central

SECR

1 April 2003 2447 Bilaspur Bilaspur, Raipur and Nagpur

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilaspur,_Chhattisgarhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilaspur,_Chhattisgarhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhansihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agra_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allahabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allahabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltair_railway_divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambalpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khurda_Roadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhubaneswarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhubaneswarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikanerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Western_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Western_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Western_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonepur,_Biharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonepur,_Biharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samastipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughalsaraihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanbadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danapurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabad_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabad_(India)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guntur_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guntakalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secunderabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayawada_Railway_Divisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secunderabad_Railway_Stationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secunderabad_Railway_Stationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Central_Railway

Sr

Name

Abbr.

DateEstablished

Routekm

Headquarters Divisions Image

15South Western

SWR 1 April 2003 3177 Hubli Hubli, Bangalore and Mysore

16West Central

WCR 1 April 2003 2965 Jabalpur Jabalpur, Bhopal and Kota

A pantograph on an IR train.

Recruitment and training[edit]Main article: Centralised Training Institutes of the Indian Railways

Staff are classified into gazetted (Group 'A' and 'B') and non-gazetted (Group 'C' and 'D') employees.[21] The recruitment of Group 'A' gazetted employees is carried out by the Union Public Service Commission through exams conducted by it.[22] The recruitment to Group 'C' and 'D' employees on the Indian Railways is done through 20 Railway Recruitment Boards and Railway Recruitment Cells which are controlled by the Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRCB).[23] The training of all cadres is entrusted and shared between six centralised training institutes.

Sapt Kranti Express waiting for departure to Anand Vihar Terminal at Muzaffarpur Junction

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzaffarpur_Junctionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anand_Vihar_Terminalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapt_Kranti_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadreshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Recruitment_Control_Boardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Recruitment_Boardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-22https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Public_Service_Commissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Public_Service_Commissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-21https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralised_Training_Institutes_of_the_Indian_Railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota,_Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabalpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabalpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Central_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hublihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hublihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Western_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Western_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Western_Railway

CLW made WAP-5 30022(CLW made WAP-5 locos don't have fluted body shell) rests at Bhopal

WDP4 Diesel Locomotive Baaz which is now at New Jalpaiguri

Sapt Kranti Express WDP-4B at 110 kmph

.

Rolling stock[edit]Locomotives[edit]Main article: Locomotives in India

Two historical steam engines at water refilling station at Agra station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_enginehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotives_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDP-4Bhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapt_Kranti_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittaranjan_Locomotive_Works

A Beyer Garratt 6594 Engine seen at theNational Rail Museum

Locomotives in India consist of electric and diesel locomotives. The world's first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) locomotives are also being used.[24] Steam locomotives are no longer used, except in heritage trains. In India, locomotives are classified according to their track gauge, motive power, the work they are suited for and their power or model number. The class name includes this information about the locomotive. It comprises 4 or 5 letters. The first letter denotes the track gauge. The second letter denotes their motive power (Diesel or Alternating - on Electric) and the third letter denotes the kind of traffic for which they are suited (goods, passenger, Multi or shunting). The fourth letter used to denote locomotives' chronological model number. However, from 2002 a new classification scheme has been adopted. Under this system, for newer diesel locomotives, the fourth letter will denote theirhorsepower range. Electric locomotives don't come under this scheme and even all diesel locos are not covered. For them this letter denotes their model number as usual.

A locomotive may sometimes have a fifth letter in its name which generally denotes a technical variant or subclass or subtype. This fifth letter indicates some smaller variation in the basic model or series, perhaps different motors, or a different manufacturer. With the new scheme for classifying diesel locomotives (as mentioned above) the fifth item is a letter that further refines the horsepower indication in 100 hp increments: 'A' for 100 hp, 'B' for 200 hp, 'C' for 300 hp, etc. So in this scheme, aWDM-3A refers to a 3100 hp loco, while a WDM-3D would be a 3400 hp loco and WDM-3F would be3600 hp loco.

Note: This classification system does not apply to steam locomotives in India as they have become non-functional now. They retained their original class names such as M class or WP class.

Diesel Locomotives are now fitted with Auxiliary Power Units which saves nearly 88% of Fuel during the idle time when train is not running.[25]

Goods wagons[edit]The number of goods wagons was 205,596 on 31 March 1951 and reached the maximum number 405,183 on 31 March 1980 after which it started declining and was 239,321 on 31 March 2012. The number is far less than the requirement and the Indian Railways keeps losing freight traffic to road. Indian Railways carried 93 million tonnes of goods in 1950–51 and it increased to 1010 million tonnes in 2012–13.[26]

However, its share in goods traffic is much lower than road traffic. In 1951, its share was 65% and the share of road was 35%. Now the shares have been reversed and the share of railways has declined to 30% and the share of road has increased to 70%.

Passenger coaches[edit]Indian railways has several types of passenger coaches.

Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) coaches are used for suburban traffic in large cities – mainly Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad andBangalore. These coaches numbered 7,793 on 31 March 2012. They have second class and first class seating accommodation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-26https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_wagonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_locomotive_class_WPhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepowerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restored_trainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-24https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotivehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rail_Museum

The coaches used in Indian Railways are produced at Integral Coach Factory, Rail Coach Factory.Now,they are producing new LHB coaches.

Passenger coaches numbered 46,722 on 31 March 2012. Other coaches (luggage coach, parcel van, guard's coach, mail coach, etc.) numbered 6,560 on 31 March 2012.

Freight[edit]Indian Railways earns about 70% of its revenues from freight traffic ( 686.2 billion from freight and ₹

304.6 billion from passengers in 2011–12). Most of its profits come from transporting freight, and ₹this makes up for losses on passenger traffic. It deliberately keeps its passenger fares low and cross-subsidises the loss-making passenger traffic with the profit-making freight traffic.

Since the 1990s, Indian Railways has stopped single-wagon consignments and provides only full rake freight trains

Wagon types include:[27]

BOXNHL

BOBYN

BCN

BCNHL

Technical details[edit]Track and gauge[edit]Indian railways uses four gauges, the 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge which is wider than the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge; the 1,000 mm(3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge; and two narrow gauges, 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) and 610 mm (2 ft). Track sections are rated for speeds ranging from 75 to160 km/h (47 to 99 mph).

The total length of track used by Indian Railways is about 115,000 km (71,000 mi) while the total route length of the network is 65,000 km (40,000 mi).[28] About 24,891 km (15,467 mi) or 38% of the route-kilometre was electrified, as of 31 March 2014.[29]

Narrow Gauge Train at Rajim, Chhattisgarh

Broad gauge is the predominant gauge used by Indian Railways. Indian broad gauge—1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)—is the most widely used gauge in India with 105,000 km (65,000 mi) of track length (91% of entire track length of all the gauges) and 56,000 km (35,000 mi) of route-kilometre (86% of entire route-kilometre of all the gauges).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ehitavada1-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Yearbook2011-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_ft_and_600_mm_gauge_railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_ft_6_in_gauge_railwayshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=11https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=10https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-27https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linke-Hofmannhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Coach_Factoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_Coach_Factoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_Coach_Factory

In some regions with less traffic, the metre gauge (1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)) is common, although the Unigauge project is in progress to convert all tracks to broad gauge. The metre gauge has about 8,000 km (5,000 mi) of track length (7% of entire track length of all the gauges) and 7,000 km (4,300 mi) of route-kilometre (10% of entire route-kilometre of all the gauges).

The Narrow gauges are present on a few routes, lying in hilly terrains and in some erstwhile private railways (on cost considerations), which are usually difficult to convert to broad gauge. Narrow gauges have 2,000 route-kilometre. The Kalka-Shimla Railway, the Kangra Valley Railway and theDarjeeling Himalayan Railway are three notable hill lines that use narrow gauge, but the Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a metre gauge track.[30] These four rail lines will not be converted under the Unigauge project.

Map of Indian Railways network with population density

The share of broad gauge in the total route-kilometre has been steadily rising, increasing from 47% (25,258 route-km) in 1951 to 86% in 2012 whereas the share of metre gauge has declined from 45%(24,185 route-km) to 10% in the same period and the share of narrow gauges has decreased from 8% to 3%. About 24,891 route-km of Indian railways is electrified.

Sleepers (ties) are made up of prestressed concrete, or steel or cast iron posts, though teak sleepers are still in use on a few older lines. The prestressed concrete sleeper is in wideuse today. Metal sleepers were extensively used before the advent of concrete sleepers. Indian Railways divides the country into four zones on the basis of the range of track temperature. The greatest temperature variations occur in Rajasthan.

Research and development[edit]Indian Railways has a full-fledged organisation known as Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), located at Lucknow for all research, designs and standardisation tasks.

In August 2013, Indian Railways entered into a partnership with Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) to develop technology to tap solar energy for lighting and air-conditioning in the coaches. This would significantly reduce the fossil fuel dependency for Indian Railways. [31]

Recently it developed and tested the Improved Automated Fire Alarm System in Rajdhani Express Trains. It is intended that the system be applied to AC coaches of all regular trains. [32]

Links to adjacent countries[edit]See also: Rail transport in India § International links

Existing rail links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_India#International_linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-31https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=12https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teakhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestressed_concretehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_tiehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangra_Valley_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka-Shimla_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_conversionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unigauge_project

Nepal – Break-of-gauge – Gauge conversion under uni-gauge project

Pakistan – same Broad Gauge. Thar Express to Karachi and the more famous Samjhauta Express international train from Lahore, Pakistan to Amritsar (Attari).

Bangladesh – Same Broad Gauge. The Maitri Express between Dhaka and Kolkata started in April 2008 using the Gede-Darsana route, in addition to a Freight Train service from Singhabad andPetrapole in India to Rohanpur and Benapole in Bangladesh. A second passenger link between Agartala, India and Akhaura Upazila, Bangladesh was approved by the Government of Bangladesh and India in September 2011.[33]

Under construction / Proposed links:

Bhutan – railways under construction – Same gauge

Myanmar – Manipur to Myanmar (under construction)

Vietnam – On 9 April 2010, Former Union Minister of India, Shashi Tharoor announced that the central government is considering a rail link from Manipur to Vietnam via Myanmar.[34]

Thailand – possible if Burma Railway is rebuilt.[35]

Types of passenger services[edit]Trains are classified by their average speed.[36] A faster train has fewer stops ("halts") than a slower one and usually caters to long-distance travel.

Rank Train Description

1 Duronto Express These are the non-stop (except for technical halts) point to point rail services introduced for the first time in 2009. They connect the metros and major state capitals of India and are faster than Rajdhani Express. They provide first AC, two-tierAC and three-tier AC accommodation. Some of them provide Sleeper Class accommodation.

2 Rajdhani Express These are air-conditioned trains linking major cities to New Delhi. They have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at an average speed of 130 km/h (82 mph). They have only a few stops. In the Railway budget of 2014, it was proposed that the speed of Rajdhani express, and Shatabdi Expresses would be increased up to 200 km/h.

3 AC SF Express These are fully air-conditioned trains linking major cities in the country. They have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130 km/h (82 mph). They have only a few stops.

4 AC Express These are fully air-conditioned trains linking major cities in the country. They have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130 km/h (82 mph). They have only a few stops.

5 Double Decker Express

These are fully air-conditioned two floor express trains. They have high priority and are considered among fast trains in India.

6 Shatabdi Express The Shatabdi trains are air-conditioned intercity trains for travel during daytime. They have seats and executive class seats. Some of them have 3-tier AC berths. They are the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130–160 km/h. India Railway is planning to introduce wi-fi faciltiy for New Delhi - Kalka Shatabdi Express. [37]

7 Yuva Express These trains were started along with Duronto Express trains to provide air conditioned travel to youth of the country. Sixty percent of the seats of these trains were reserved for passengers between 18 – 45 years of age. These trains did not enjoy much success. Today these trains only operate on the Delhi - Howrah and Delhi - Mumbai routes.

8 Garib Rath Air-conditioned no-frills trains with seats and 3-tier Economy AC berths. The maximum speed is 130 km/h. Some of them have AC Chair cars also.

9 Jan Shatabdi Express

Jan Shatabdi Express are a more affordable variety of the Shatabdi Express, which have both AC and non-AC classes. The maximum speed is 130 km/h.

10 Sampark Kranti Express

These are a series of trains which provide super fast Express-like connectivity to the national capital Delhi. These trains have higher priority than Super Express / Mail.

11 Intercity Superfast Express/Mail

These trains travel at a speed greater than 100–120 km/h (60-75 mph). Tickets for these trains have an additional superfast surcharge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfast/Mail_Trains_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfast/Mail_Trains_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampark_Kranti_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampark_Kranti_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Shatabdi_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Shatabdi_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garib_Rathhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuva_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatabdi_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Decker_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Decker_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Express_(Indian_Railways)https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AC_Super_Fast_Express_(Indian_Railways)&action=edit&redlink=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajdhani_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duronto_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-irfcarailops-36https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=14https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-35https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Thailandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashi_Tharoorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Vietnamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Myanmarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Bhutanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhaura_Upazilahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agartalahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benapolehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrapolehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singhabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhakahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitri_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Bangladeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amritsarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samjhauta_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samjhauta_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thar_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Pakistanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Unigaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break-of-gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Nepal

12 Kavi Guru Express These trains were introduced in honour of Ravindra Nath Tagore. Currently four pairs of these trains operate on the Indian Railways network.

13 Vivek Express These trains were introduced to commemorate the 150th birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand in 2013. Currently fourpairs of Vivek Express run in the country.

14 Rajya Rani Express These trains were introduced to connect state capitals to important cities in that state.

15 Express These are the most common kind of trains in India. They have more stops than their super-fast counterparts, but they stoponly at relatively important intermediate stations.

16 Passenger andFast Passenger

These are slow trains that stop at most or every station along the route and are the cheapest trains. The trains generally have unreserved seating accommodation but some night trains have sleeper and 3-tier AC compartments. These trains travel at about 40-80 kmh.

17 Suburban trains These trains operate in the urban areas of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune and between Kanpur and Lucknow, usually stop at all stations and have unreserved seating accommodation.

18 Metro These trains are designed for city transport. Indian Railway constructed Kolkata Metro for the city of Kolkata.

18 Tourist Trains Indian Railways also operate luxurious tourist trains like Palace on Wheels, Maharaja Express, The Golden Chariot, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels etc. Fairy Queen has also gained tourist attraction because it is the oldest steam engine in operation hauling a luxurious train from Delhi to Alwar.

Accommodation classes[edit]

Air-conditioned Chair Car (CC) coaches in an Shatabdi Express.

Main article: Indian Railways coaching stock

Indian Railways has several classes of travel with or without airconditioning. A train may have just one or many classes of travel. Slow passenger trains have only unreserved seating class whereas Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi, garib rath and yuva trains have only airconditioned classes. The fares for all classes are different with unreserved seating class being the cheapest. The fare of Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains includes food served in the train but the fare for other trains does not include food that has to be bought separately. In long-distance trains a pantry car is usually included and food is served at the berth or seat itself. Luxury trains such as Palace on Wheels have separate dining cars but these trains cost as much as or more than a five-star hotel room.

A standard passenger rake generally has four unreserved (also called "general") compartments, two at the front and two at the end, of which one may be exclusively for ladies. The exact number of other coaches varies according to the demand and the route. A luggage compartment can also exist at the front or the back. In some mail trains a separate mail coach is attached. Lavatories are communal and feature both the Indian style as well as the Western style.

The following table lists the classes in operation. A train may not have all these classes.

Class[38] Description[38][39]

1A First class AC: This is the most expensive class, where the fares are almost at par with air fare. There are eight cabins (including two coupes) in the full AC First Class coach and three cabins (including one coupe) in the half AC First Class coach. The coach has an attendant to help the passengers. Bedding is included with the fare in IR. This air conditioned coach is present only on popular routes and can carry 18 passengers (full coach) or 10 passengers (half coach). The sleeper berths are extremely wide and spacious. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation and have privacy features like personal coupes. This class is available on broad gauge and metre gauge trains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-indrailuk-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-irfcatravel-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-irfcatravel-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantry_carhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways_coaching_stockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatabdi_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=15https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Queen_(locomotive)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rajasthan_on_Wheelshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Chariothttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Chariothttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharaja_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_on_Wheelshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxury_rail_in_India#Tourist_trainshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata_Metrohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_transit_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucknowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmedabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabad,_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suburban_rail_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Passengerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Passengerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_trainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Express_Trains_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajya_Rani_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekanandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavi_Guru_Express

2A AC-Two tier: These air-conditioned coaches have sleeping berths across eight bays. Berths are usually arranged in two tiers in bays of six, four across the width of the coach and two berths longways on the other side of the corridor, with curtains along the gangway or corridor. Bedding is included with the fare. A broad gauge coach can carry 48 passengers (full coach) or 20 passengers (half coach). This class is available on broad gauge and metre gauge trains.

FC First class: Same as 1AC but without air conditioning. No bedding is available in this class. The berths are wide and spacious. Thereis a coach attendant to help the passengers. This class has been phased out on most of the trains and is rare to find. However narrow gauge trains to hill stations have this class.

3A AC three tier: Air conditioned coaches with 64 sleeping berths. Berths are usually arranged as in 2AC but with three tiers across thewidth and two longways as before giving eight bays of eight. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights or curtained off gangways. Bedding is included with fare. It carries 64 passengers in broad gauge. This class is available only on broad gauge.

3E AC three tier (Economy): Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, present in Garib Rath Trains. Berths are usually arranged as in 3AC but with three tiers across the width and three longways. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights orcurtained off gangways. Bedding is not included with fare.

CC AC chair car: An air-conditioned seater coach with a total of five seats in a row used for day travel between cities.

EC Executive class chair car: An air-conditioned coach with large spacious seats and legroom. It has a total of four seats in a row used for day travel between cities. This class of travel is only available on Shatabdi Express trains.

SL Sleeper class: The sleeper class is the most common coach on IR, and usually ten or more coaches could be attached. These are regular sleeping coaches with three berths vertically stacked. In broad gauge, it carries 72 passengers per coach.

2S Seater class: same as AC Chair car, but with bench style seats and without the air-conditioning. These may be reserved in advance or may be unreserved.

UR Unreserved: The cheapest accommodation. The seats are usually made up of pressed wood in older coaches but cushioned seats are found in new coaches. These coaches are usually over-crowded and a seat is not guaranteed. Tickets are issued in advance for a minimum journey of more than 24 hours. Tickets issued are valid on any train on the same route if boarded within 24 hours of buying the ticket.

Seen here is the Mumbai Rajdhani Express. Rajdhanis are long-distance high-speed and high-priority trains connecting major state capitals with New

Delhi

Seen here is the Secunderabad Yeshwanthpur Garib-Rath Express. Garib-Rath's are low cost A/c trains

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Rajdhani_Express

Interior of a First Class(1A) compartment in the Rajdhani Express

Interior of an air-conditioned Chair Car coach(CC) in an Jan Shatabdi Express.

Inside a 3-tier AC Compartment of the Dakshin Express

A typical sleeper class coach

At the rear of the train is a special compartment known as the guard's cabin. It is fitted with a transceiver and is where the guard usually gives the all clear signal before the train departs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transceiverhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caboosehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Shatabdi_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajdhani_Express

UNESCO world heritage sites[edit]There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Indian Railways. – The Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus [40] and the Mountain Railways of India. The latter consists of three separate railway lines located in different parts of India:[41]

A tight loop (Agony Point) on theDarjeeling Himalayan Railway in West Bengal

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow gauge railway in West Bengal.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge railway in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.

Kalka-Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge railway in the Shivalik mountains in Himachal Pradesh. In 2003 the railway was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for offering the steepest rise in altitude in the space of 96 kilometre.[42]

Notable trains[edit]Tourist trains[edit]

Palace on Wheels is a specially designed luxury tourist train service, frequently hauled by a steam locomotive, for promoting tourism in Rajasthan. The train has a 7 nights & 8 days itinerary, it departs from New Delhi (Day 1), and covers Jaipur (Day 2), Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh (Day 3), Udaipur (Day 4), Jaisalmer (Day 5), Jodhpur (Day 6), Bharatpur and Agra (Day 7), return to Delhi (Day 8).[43]

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels a luxury tourist train service covers various tourist destinations in Rajasthan. The train takes tourists on a 7-day/8-night tour through Rajasthan. The train starts from New Delhi's Safdarjung railway station (Day 1), and has stops at Jodhpur (Day 2), Udaipur andChittaurgarh (Day 3), Ranthambore National Park and Jaipur (Day 4), Khajuraho (Day 5), Varanasi and Sarnath (Day 6), Agra (Day 7) and back to Delhi (Day 8).[44]

Maharaja Express a luxury train operated by IRCTC runs on five circuits[45] covering more than 12 destinations across North-West and Central India, mainly centered around Rajasthan between the months of October to April.

Deccan Odyssey luxury tourist train service covers various tourist destinations in Maharashtra and Goa. The 7 Nights / 8 Days tour starts fromMumbai (Day 1) and covers Jaigad Fort, Ganapatipule and Ratnagiri (Day 2), Sindhudurg, Tarkarli and Sawantwadi (Day 3), Goa (Day 4), Kolhapurand Pune (Day 5), Aurangabad and Ellora Caves (Day 6), Ajanta Caves and Nashik (Day 7), and back to Mumbai (Day 8).[46]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashikhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajanta_Caveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellora_Caveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangabad,_Maharashtrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolhapurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawantwadihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarkarlihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindhudurghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratnagirihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganapatipulehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaigad_Forthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Odysseyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRCTChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharaja_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnathhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajurahohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranthambore_National_Parkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittaurgarhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rajasthan_on_Wheelshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatpur,_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodhpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaisalmerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittaurgarhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawai_Madhopurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawai_Madhopurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Delhihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_on_Wheelshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=18https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=17https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-tribune-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Recordshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradeshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwalik_Hillshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka-Shimla_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Naduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Hillshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Hillshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_gaugehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Mountain_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Railways_of_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatrapati_Shivaji_Terminushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatrapati_Shivaji_Terminushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Sitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=16

The Golden Chariot luxury train runs on two circuits Pride of the South[47] and Splendor of the South.[48]

Mahaparinirvan Express an a/c train service also known as Buddhist Circuit Train which is run by IRCTC to attract Buddhist pilgrims. The 7 nights/8 Days tour starts from New Delhi (Day 1) and covers Bodh Gaya (Day 2), Rajgir and Nalanda (Day 3), Varanasi and Sarnath (Day 4), Kushinagar andLumbini (Day 5 and 6), Sravasti (Day 7), Taj Mahal (Agra) (Day 8) before returning to New Delhi on (Day 8).[49]

Other trains[edit]

Samjhauta Express is a train that runs between India and Pakistan. However, hostilities between the two nations in 2001 saw the line being closed. It was reopened when the hostilities subsided in 2004. Another train connecting Khokhrapar (Pakistan) and Munabao (India) is the Thar Express that restarted operations on 18 February 2006; it was earlier closed down afterthe 1965 Indo-Pak war.

Lifeline Express is a special train popularly known as the "Hospital-on-Wheels" which provides healthcare to the rural areas. This train has a carriage that serves as an operating room, a second one which serves as a storeroom and an additional two that serve as a patient ward. The train travels around the country, staying at a location for about two months before moving elsewhere.

A view of the Pamban Railway Bridgethat links Rameshwaram to the mainland

Fairy Queen is the oldest operating locomotive in the world today, though it is operated only for specials between Delhi and Alwar. John Bull, a locomotive older than Fairy Queen, operated in 1981 commemorating its 150th anniversary. Gorakhpur railway station also has the distinction of being the world's longest railway platform at 4,483 ft (1,366 m). The Ghum station along the Darjeeling Toy Train route is the second highest railway station in the world to be reached by a steam locomotive.[50] The Mumbai–Pune Deccan Queen has the oldest running dining car in IR.

Vivek Express, between Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari, has the longest run in terms of distance and time on Indian Railways network. It covers 4,286 km (2,663 mi) in about 82 hours and 30 minutes.

Bhopal Shatabdi Express is the fastest train in India today having a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) on the Faridabad–Agra section. The fastest speed attained by any train is 184 km/h (114 mph) in 2000 during test runs.

Special Trains are those trains started by Indian Railways for any specific event or cause which includes Jagriti Yatra trains,[51] Kumbh Mela Trains.,[52] emergency trains, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-52https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faridabadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_Shatabdihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanyakumarihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibrugarhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Queenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-Hill-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railwayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorakhpurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bull_(locomotive)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Queen_(locomotive)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rameshwaramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamban_Bridgehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeline_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1965https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thar_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munabaohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khokhraparhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samjhauta_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sravastihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbinihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushinagarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnathhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalandahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajgirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gayahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRCTChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahaparinirvan_Expresshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-48https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Chariot

Double-decker AC trains have been introduced in India. The first double decker train was Pune-Mumbai Sinhagad express plying between Pune andMumbai [53] while the first double-decker AC train in the Indian Railways was introduced in November 2010, running between the Dhanbad andHowrah stations having 10 coaches and 2 power cars.[54] On 16 April 2013, Indian Railways celebrated its 160 years of nationwide connectivity with a transportation of 23 million passengers in a day.[55]

Problems and issues[edit]Indian Railways is cash strapped and reported a loss of ₹30,000 crores ( 300bn) in the passenger ₹segment for the year ending March 2014. Operating ratio, a key metric used by Indian railways to gauge financial health, is 91.8% in the year 2014-15. Railways carry a social obligation of over 20,000 crores ( 200bn $3.5bn). The loss per passenger-km increased to 23₹ ₹ paise by the end of March 2014. Indian Railways is left with a surplus cash of just 690 crores ( 6.9bn $115mn) by the₹ ₹end of March 2014.[56]

It is estimated that over ₹ 5 lakh crores ( 5 trillion) (about $85 bn at 2014 exchange rates) is ₹required to complete the ongoing projects alone. The railway is consistently losing market share to other modes of transport both in freight and passengers.[57]

New railway line projects are often announced during the Railway Budget annually without securing additional funding for them. In the last 10 years,[when?] 99 New Line projects worth ₹ 60,000 crore ( 600bn) were sanctioned out of which only one project is complete till date, and there are four ₹projects that are as old as 30 years, but are still not complete for one reason or another.[6]

Sanjay Dina Patil a member of the Lok Sabha in 2014 said that additional tracks, height of platforms are still a problem and rise in tickets, goods, monthly passes has created an alarming situation where the common man is troubled.[58]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ncp-58https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lok_Sabhahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Dina_Patilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-ReferenceA-6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_itemshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Budgethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-57https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-56https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paisehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_ratiohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rupeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railways&action=edit&section=20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-55https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-54https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howrahhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanbadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#cite_note-53https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbaihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilevel_rail_car

Indian RailwaysContentsHistory[edit]Organisational structure[edit]Railway zones[edit]Recruitment and training[edit]

Rolling stock[edit]Locomotives[edit]Goods wagons[edit]Passenger coaches[edit]Freight[edit]

Technical details[edit]Track and gauge[edit]Research and development[edit]

Links to adjacent countries[edit]Types of passenger services[edit]Accommodation classes[edit]UNESCO world heritage sites[edit]Notable trains[edit]Tourist trains[edit]Other trains[edit]

Problems and issues[edit]