Map showing the Indian rail network and travelling times between major stations

Rail transport is a commonly used mode of long-distance transportation in India. Almost all rail operations in India are handled by a state-owned organisation, Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways. The rail network traverses the length and breadth of the country, covering in 2011 a total length of [1]:3 [2] 64,460 kilometres (40,050 mi). It is the 4th largest railway network in the world, transporting 7651 [1]:3, 56 million passengers and over 921 million tonnes of freight annually, as of 2011. Its operations cover twenty eight states and three union territories and also provide limited service to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both passenger and freight traffic has seen steady growth, and as per the 2009 budget presented by the Railway Minister, the Indian Railways carried over 7 billion passengers in 2009 Railways were introduced to India in 1853 from Mumbai to Thane, and by the time of India's independence in 1947 they had grown to forty-two rail systems. In 1951 the systems were nationalised as one unitIndian Railwaysto form one of the largest networks in the world. The broad gauge is the majority and original standard gauge in India; more recent networks of metre and narrow gauge are being replaced by broad gauge under Project Unigauge. The steam locomotives have been replaced over the years with diesel and electric locomotives. Locomotives manufactured at several places in India are assigned codes identifying their gauge, kind of power and type of operation.Colour signal lights are used as signals, but in some remote areas of operation, the older semaphores and disc-based signalling are still in use. Accommodation classes range from general through first class AC. Trains have been classified according to speed and area of operation. All trains are officially identified by a five-digit code (changed from four digits on 20 [4] December 2010) though many are commonly known by unique names. The ticketing system has been computerised to a large extent, and there are reserved as well as unreserved categories of tickets.
[3]

History
Main article: History of rail transport in India Purusothaman Further information: 2010 in rail transport in India

Extent of Great Indian Peninsular Railwaynetwork in 1870. The GIPR was one of the largest rail companies at that time.

Map of the Madras and South Mahratta Railway lines in 1914.

Extent of the railway network in 1909.

Commemorative logo released by the Indian Railways in 2003 to mark 150 years of its existence.

A plan for a rail system in India was first put forward in 1832. The first rail line of the Indian subcontinent came up near Chintadripet Bridge (presently in Chennai) in Madras Presidency in 1836 as [5][6] an experimental line. In 1837, a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) long rail line was established between Red [7] Hills and stone quarries near St. Thomas Mount. In 1844, the Governor-General of India Lord Hardinge allowed private entrepreneursto set up a rail system in India. The East India Company (and later the British Government) encouraged new railway companies backed by private investors under a scheme that would provide land and guarantee an annual return of up to five percent during the initial years of operation. The companies were to build and operate the lines under a 99 year lease, with the [8] government having the option to buy them earlier.

Two new railway companies, Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) and East Indian Railway (EIR), were created in 1853-54 to construct and operate two 'experimental' lines near Mumbai and Kolkata [8] respectively. The first train in India had become operational on 22 December 1851 for localised [9] hauling of canal construction material in Roorkee. A year and a half later, on 16 April 1853, the first passenger train service was inaugurated between Bori Bunder in Mumbai and Thane. Covering a [10] distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi), it was hauled by three locomotives,Sahib, Sindh, and Sultan. This was soon followed by opening of the first passenger railway line in North India between Allahabad and Kanpur on March 3, 1859. In 1854 Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-General of India, formulated a plan to construct a network of trunk lines connecting the principal regions of India. Encouraged by the government guarantees, investment flowed in and a series of new rail companies were established, leading to rapid expansion [11] of the rail system in India. Soon various native states built their own rail systems and the network spread to the regions that became themodern-day states of Assam, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The route mileage of this network increased from 1,349 kilometres (838 mi) in 1860 to 25,495 kilometres (15,842 mi) in 1880 - mostly radiating inland from the three major port cities of [12] Mumbai, Madras, and Calcutta. Most of the railway construction was done by Indian companies. The railway line from Lahore to Delhi was done B.S.D. Bedi and Sons (Baba Shib Dayal Bedi), this included the building of the Jamuna Bridge. By 1895, India had started building its own locomotives, [citation needed] and in 1896 sent engineers and locomotives to help build the Uganda Railway. At the beginning of the twentieth century India had a multitude of rail services with diverse ownership [13] and management, operating on broad, metre and narrow gauge networks. In 1900 the government took over the GIPR network, while the company continued to manage it. With the arrival of the First World War, the railways were used to transport troops and foodgrains to the port city of Mumbai and Karachi en route to UK, Mesopotamia, East Africa etc. By the end of the First World War, the railways [14] had suffered immensely and were in a poor state. In 1923, both GIPR and EIR were nationalized [13] with the state assuming both ownership and management control. The Second World War severely crippled the railways as rolling stock was diverted to the Middle East, [15] and the railway workshops were converted into munitions workshops. After independence in 1947, forty-two separate railway systems, including thirty-two lines owned by the former Indian princely states, were amalgamated to form a single unit named the Indian Railways. The existing rail networks [13] were abandoned in favour of zones in 1951 and a total of six zones came into being in 1952. As the economy of India improved, almost all railway production units were 'indigenised' (produced in India). By 1985, steam locomotives were phased out in favour of diesel and electric locomotives. The entire railway reservation system was streamlined with computerisation between 1987 and 1995. In 2003, the Indian Railways celebrated 150 years of its existence. Various zones of the railways celebrated the event by running heritage trains on routes similar to the ones on which the first trains in the zones ran. The Ministry of Railways commemorated the event by launching a special logo [16][17] celebrating the completion of 150 years of service. Also launched was a new mascot for the [18] 150th year celebrations, named "Bholu the guard elephant". On 16th April 2013, Google celeberates 160 years of India first passenger train journey by google [19][20] doodles.

[edit]Locomotives Indian Railways use a specialised classification code for identifying its locomotives. The code is usually three or four letters, followed by a digit identifying the model (either assigned chronologically [21] or encoding the power rating of the locomotive). This could be followed by other codes for minor variations in the base model. The three (or four) letters are, from left to right, the gauge of tracks on which the locomotive operates, the type of power source or fuel for the locomotive, and the kind of operation the locomotive can be [21] used for. The gauge is coded as 'W' for broad gauge, 'Y' for metre gauge, 'Z' for the 762 mm narrow gauge and 'N' for the 610 mm narrow gauge. The power source code is 'D' for diesel, 'A' for AC traction, 'C' for DC traction and 'CA' for dual traction (AC/DC). The operation letter is 'G' for freightonly operation, 'P' for passenger trains-only operation, 'M' for mixed operation (both passenger and freight) and 'S' for shunting operation. A number alongside it indicates the power rating of the [21] engine. For example '4' would indicate a power rating of above 4,000 hp (2,980 kW) but below 5,000 hp (3,730 kW). A letter following the number is used to give an exact rating. For instance 'A' would be an additional 100 horsepower (75 kW); 'B' 200 hp (150 kW) and so on. For example, a WDM-3D is a broad-gauge, diesel-powered, mixed mode (suitable for both freight and passenger duties) and has a power rating of 3400 hp (2.5 MW). The most common diesel engine used is the WDM-2, which entered production in 1962. This 2,600 hp (1.9 MW) locomotive was designed by Alco and manufactured by the Diesel Locomotive [22] Works, Varanasi, and is used as a standard workhorse. It is being replaced by more modern engines, ranging in power up to 5,500 hp (4.1 MW). There is a wide variety of electric locomotives used, ranging between 2,800 to 6,350 hp (2.1 to [22] 4.7 MW). They also accommodate the different track voltages in use. Most electrified sections in the country use 25,000 volt AC, but railway lines around Mumbai use the older [23] 1,500 V DC system. Thus, Mumbai and surrounding areas are the only places where one can find AC/DC dual locomotives of the WCAM and WCAG series. All other electric locomotives are pure AC ones from the WAP, WAG and WAM series. Some specialised EMU (electric multiple units) are running on Mumbai Suburban System of Central Railway and Western Railway also use dual-power systems, these are new-age rakes manufactured in ICF (Integral Coach Factory) in Perambur usually white and purple livery color. There are also some very rare battery-powered locomotives, primarily used for shunting and yard work. The only steam engines still in service in India operate on two heritage lines (Darjeeling and Ooty), [24] and on the tourist train Palace on Wheels. Plans are afoot to re-convert the Neral-Matheran to steam. The oldest steam engine in the world in regular service, the Fairy Queen, operates between Delhi and Alwar. [edit]Signalling

systems

See also: Railway signal and Railway signalling The Indian Railways makes use of colour signal lights, but in some remote areas of operation, the older semaphores and discs-based signalling (depending on the position or colour) are still in [25] use. Except for some high-traffic sections around large cities and junctions, the network does not use automatic block systems. However, the signals at stations are almost invariably interlocked with the setting of points (routes) and so safety does not depend on the skill of the station masters. With

the planned introduction of Cab signalling/Anti collision devices the element of risk on account of drivers overshooting signals will also be eliminated. Coloured signalling makes use of multi-coloured lighting and in many places is automatically [25] controlled. There are three modes: Two aspect signalling, which uses a red (bottom) and green (top) lamp Three aspect signalling, which uses an additional amber lamp in the centre Four (multiple) aspect signalling makes use of four lamps, the fourth is amber and is placed above the other three.

Multiple aspect signals, by providing several intermediate speed stages between 'clear' and 'on', allow high-speed trains sufficient time to brake safely if required. This becomes very important as train speeds rise. Without multiple-aspect signals, the stop signals have to be placed very far apart to allow sufficient braking distance and this reduces track utilisation. At the same time, slower trains can also be run closer together on track with multiple aspect signals. Semaphores make use of a mechanical arm to indicate the line condition. Several subtypes are [25] used: Two aspect lower quadrant Three aspect modified lower quadrant Multiple aspect upper quadrant Disc-based: These signals are located close to levers used to operate points. They are all twoaspect signals.

[edit]Production

units

The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in Chittaranjan makes electric locomotives. The Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi makes diesel locomotives. The Integral Coach Factory in Perambur makes integral coaches. These have a monocoque construction, and the floor is an integral unit with the undercarriage. The Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala also makes coaches. The Rail Wheel Factory at Yelahanka(Bangalore) manufactures wheels and axles, Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works, Patiala upgrade the WDM-2 Diesel loco from 2600 hp to 3100 hp. Some electric locomotives have been supplied by BHEL, Jhansi and Palakkad, and locomotive components are manufactured in [21] several other plants around the country. [edit]Nomenclature

The Secunderabad Railway Station is one of the major stations in India

Trains are sorted into various categories that dictate the number of stops along their route, the priority they enjoy on the network, and the fare structure. Each express train is identified by a five-digit number, the first digit as 1 and 2 for long-distance Express trains. If the first digit is 0, then the train is a Special. The first digit as 5 denotes a passenger train. The second digit indicates the zone that operates the train, the third the division within the zone that controls the train and is responsible for its [26] regular maintenance and cleanliness, and the last two digits are the train's serial number. The [4] system was changed from four digits from 20 December 2010, in order to accommodate an increasing number of trains. For super-fast trains, the second digit is always 2 (the first remains 1 or 2), the third digit is the zone, the fourth is the division and only the last digit is the serial number within the division. Trains travelling in opposite directions along the same route are usually labelled with consecutive [26] numbers. However, there is considerable variation in train numbers and some zones, such [26] as Central Railway, has a less systematic method for numbering trains. Most express trains also have a unique name that is usually exotic and taken from landmarks, famous people, rivers and so [27][28] on. [edit]Hierarchy
[26]

of trains
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Trains are classified by their average speed. A faster train has fewer stops ("halts") than a slower one and usually caters to long-distance travellers.
Rank 1 Train Duronto Express Description These are the non-stop point to point trains (except for operational stops) introduced in 2009 connecting metros and major state capitals and are faster than Rajdhani Express. They consist of first AC, two-tier AC, three-tier AC and sleeper classes. 2 Rajdhani Express These are air-conditioned trains linking major cities to New Delhi. They are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130 km (81 mi) per hour. There are only a few stops on a Rajdhani route. 3 Shatabdi Express These are air-conditioned and non-airconditioned respectively intercity trains for day travel. They generally have only seats. Some of them also have one coach with berths.

Garib Rath

These trains contain AC three-tier and AC chair car coaches with fares less than the fares for the same classes in other trains. They are almost as fast as Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. These trains have an average speed greater than 55 km (34 mi) per hour and stop at a few stations. The tickets for these trains have an additional superfast surcharge. These are the most common kind of trains in India. They have more stops than their superfast counterparts but they stop only at relatively important intermediate stations. These are slow trains that stop at most stations along the route and have the lowest fare. The trains generally have unreserved seating accommodation but some night trains have sleeper and 3A coaches. These trains operate in urban and suburban areas of major cities, usually stop at all stations, have unreserved seating accommodation and also have one or more separate coaches only for women. They have the same low fare as passenger trains. Monthly and quarterly tickets (referred to as season tickets) for suburban

Superfast Express

Express and Mail trains

Passenger and Fast Passenger

Suburban trains

trains are also available at subsidised prices.

Ticketing
India has some of the lowest train fares in the world, and passenger traffic is heavily subsidised by [31] more expensive higher class fares. Until the late 1980s, Indian Railway ticket reservations were done manually. In late 1987, the Railways started using a computerised ticketing system. The entire ticketing system went online in 1995 to provide up to date information on status and availability. Today the ticketing network is computerised to a large extent, with the exception of some remote places. Computerized tickets can be booked for any two points in the country. Tickets can also be booked through the internet and via mobile phones, though this method carries an additional surcharge. Discounted tickets are available for senior citizens (above sixty years) and some other categories of passengers including the disabled, students, sportspersons, persons afflicted by serious diseases, or persons appearing for competitive examinations. One compartment of the lowest class of accommodation is earmarked for ladies in every passenger carrying train. Some berths or seats in [32] sleeper class and second class are also earmarked for ladies. Season tickets permitting unlimited travel on specific sections or specific trains for a specific time period may also be available. Foreign [33] tourists can buy an Indrail Pass, which is modeled on the Eurail Pass, permitting unlimited travel in India for a specific time period.

An Indian Railway Ticket from Salem toVijayawada by Howrah Mail.

For long-distance travel, reservation of a berth can be done for comfortable travel up to 120 days [32] before the date of intended travel. Details such as the name, age and concession (if eligible) are required and are recorded on the ticket. The ticket price usually includes the base fare, which depends on the classification of the train (example: super-fast surcharge if the train is classified as a super-fast), the class in which one wishes to travel and the reservation charge for overnight journeys. If a seat is not available, then the ticket is given a wait listed number; else the ticket is confirmed, and a berth number is printed on the ticket. A person receiving a wait listed ticket must wait until there are [32][33] enough cancellations to enable him to move up the list and obtain a confirmed ticket. If his ticket is not confirmed on the day of departure, he may not board the train. Some of the tickets are assigned to the RAC or Reservation against Cancellation, which is between the waiting list and the confirmed [32][33] list. These allow the ticket holder to board the train and obtain an allotted seat decided by a ticket collector, after the ticket collector has ascertained that there is a vacant (absentee) seat. Reserved Railway Tickets can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and [34] Tourism Corporation Limited, and also through mobile Phones and SMS. Tickets booked through this site are categorised into iTickets and eTickets. iTickets are booked by a passenger and then

printed and delivered to the passenger for carrying during journey. eTickets are printed by the passenger and carried while travelling. While traveling on an eTicket, one must carry one of the authorised valid Photo Identity Cards. Cancellation of eTickets are also done online, without the requirement for the passenger to go to any counter. Unreserved tickets are available for purchase on the platform at any time before departure. An unreserved ticket holder may only board the general compartment class. All suburban networks issue unreserved tickets valid for a limited time period. For frequent commuters, a season pass (monthly or quarterly) guarantees unlimited travel between two stops.

International links
India has rail links with Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. It also plans to install a rail system in southern Bhutan. A move to link the railways of India and Sri Lanka never materialised. Pakistan
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See also: Transport between India and Pakistan Before the Partition of India there were eight rail links between what are now India and Pakistan. However, currently there are only two actively maintained rail links between the two countries. The first one is at Wagah in Punjab. The Samjhauta Express plies this route from Amritsar in India [35] toLahore in Pakistan. The second one, the Thar Express, opened in 2006 runs between Munabao (in Rajasthan in India) and Khokhrapar (in Sindh in Pakistan). Other discussed links are FerozepurSamasata, FerozepurLahore, AmritsarLahore, AmritsarSialkot and Jammu [35][36] Sialkot. Bangladesh

After the creation of East Pakistan (later Bangladesh), many trains that used to run between Assam and Bengal had to be rerouted through the Siliguri Corridor. As of March 2010, there exists one passenger link between India and Bangladesh, the Maitree Express, which plies [37] between Kolkata andDhaka twice a week. A metre gauge link exists between Mahisasan (Mohishashon) and Shahbazpur. Another link is between Radhikapur and Birol. These two links are [35][36] used occasionally for freight. A rail link between Akhaura in Bangladesh and Agartala in India [38] was approved by the Government of India in September 2011. The 15 km rail line will cost 252 [39] crore and is expected to be completed by 2014. Nepal

There are two links between India and Nepal: Raxaul Jn., BiharSirsiya, Parsa and Jaynagar, Bihar [36] Khajuri, Dhanusa. The former is broad gauge, while the latter is narrow gauge. [edit]Proposed

rail links

The Indian railways is also pursuing to build the highest railway track in the world overtaking [40][41] current record of Beijing-Lhasa Railway line. Indian Railways has planned to install a rail system in southern connected to India. A railway between Manipur, India and Bhutan that would be

Myanmar is under construction.

On April 9, 2010, Union Minister of India, Shashi Tharoor announced that the central government is considering a rail link from Manipur to Vietnam via Myanmar.
[42]

Indian Railways and rail authorities in China are interested in starting a high-speed rail Myanmar
[43]

link that would link New Delhi with Kunming, China via

The rail link would

utilise the under construction railway from Manipur, India to Myanmar and the under construction railway from Kunming to Myanmar. A rail link to to [edit]Private Thailand is possible if Burma Railway is rebuilt. Singapore.
[44]

Would also allow trains

Malaysia and

railways

Though the Indian Railways enjoys a near monopoly in India, a few private railways do exist, left over from the days of the Raj, usually small sections on private estates, etc. There are also some railway lines owned and operated by companies for their own purposes, by plantations, sugar mills, collieries, mines, dams, harbours and ports, etc. The Mumbai Port Trust runs a BG railway of its own, as does [45] the Madras Port Trust. The Calcutta Port Commission Railway is a BG railway. The Vishakhapatnam Port Trust has BG and NG, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm), railways. The Bhilai Steel Plant has a BG railway network. The Tatas (a private concern) operate funicular railways at Bhira and at Bhivpuri Road (as well as the KamshetShirawta Dam railway line, which is not a public line). These are not common carriers, so the general public cannot travel using these. The Pipavav Rail Corporation holds a 33-year concession for building and operating a railway line [45] from Pipavav to Surendranagar. TheKutch Railway Company, a joint venture of the Gujarat state government and private parties, is involved (along with the Kandla Port Trust and the Gujarat Adani [45] Port) to build a Gandhidham Palanpur railway line. These railway lines are principally used to carry freight and not for passenger traffic. Although generally IR has decided the freight tariffs on these lines, recently (February 2005) there have been proposals to allow the operating companies freedom to set freight tariffs and generally run the lines without reference to IR.
[45]