Rail Transport System in India

Rail Transport System in India

Overview of Indian Railways

The Indian Railways have been a great integrating force for more than 171 years. From a modest beginning in 1853, Indian Railways has grown into a vast network of 7,308 stations spread over a route length of 68,043 km.

With a fleet of 13,215 locomotives, 74,744 passenger service vehicles, 10,103 other coaching vehicles, and 3,18,896 wagons, the Indian Railways is one of the most significant railway systems in the world. About 74.06% of the route kilometres, 80.38% of running track kilometers, and 78.46% of total track kilometers are electrified.

Zones and Network Structure

• The network is divided into 17 Zones.

• The Indian Railway network is the largest in Asia and the third largest in the world under one management.

Historical Background

The first rail in India started on April 16, 1853, between Bori Bunder, Mumbai, and Thane (34 km or 21 miles). The Indian Railway Board was established in March 1905. The Deccan Queen train was introduced on 1st June 1930 to run between Pune and Mumbai, and celebrated its 90th birthday in 2020.

Major Rail and Road Routes through Passes (India)

• Thai Ghat Pass: Mumbai-Nagpur-Kolkata Rail and Road Route

• Bhor Ghat: Mumbai-Pune-Belgaum-Chennai Rail and Road Route

• Pal Ghat: Calicut-Thrissur-Coimbatore-Indore Rail and Road Route

Performance Overview (Economic Survey 2022-23)

According to Economic Survey 2022-23:

Being the third largest network in the world under single management with over 68,103 route kms, Indian Railways (IR) strives to provide a safe, efficient, competitive, and world-class transport system.

• Passenger traffic was 809 crore during 2019-20, dipped to 125 crore in 2020-21, and recovered to 351.9 crore in 2021-22. As of November 2022, it reached 418.4 crore.

• In FY22-23 (up to Nov 2022), IR carried 976.8 million tonnes of freight traffic, up from 901.7 million tonnes in FY21-22, an 8.3% increase.

• Till 12 December 2022, IR completed 2022 Track Kilometres (TKM), including:

  • 109 TKM of New Line

  • 102 TKM of Gauge Conversion

  • 1811 TKM of Multi-tracking Projects

• From FY2014-22, a total of 20,628 km sections were commissioned (including 3,970 km New Line, 5,507 km Gauge Conversion, and 11,151 km Doubling) at an average of 2,579 km/year.

Cleanliness Campaign

• Special Cleanliness Campaigns under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were launched by Indian Railways on 2nd October 2014.

Vande Bharat Express

• The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed intercity train and a symbol of the 'Make in India' initiative.

• It is India's first indigenous and engine-less train, also considered the fastest train in the country.

• The first route was inaugurated in 2019, between Delhi and Varanasi.

Types of Rail Gauges in India

India has three types of rail lines:

• Broad Gauge (1.676 mts)

• Meter Gauge (1.000 mts)

• Narrow Gauge (0.762 and 0.610 mts)

Light Rail-Based Transit System

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved a corridor for the Light Rail-Based Transit System.

• In Delhi, the proposed Metrolite project will serve as a feeder service.

• In Nashik, it will be the primary metro project.

Administration and Governance

• The management of Indian Railways lies with the Railway Board.

• The network is divided into 17 Zones.

• The Kolkata Metro Zone (17th Zone) was established on 29 December 2010.

National Rail Plan (NRP)

• The Ministry of Railways developed the National Rail Plan to provide adequate infrastructure by 2030 to meet traffic demands up to 2050.

• The goal is to increase the modal share of rail in freight from 26-27% to 40-45%.

Divisions and Headquarters of the Zonal Railways

Zones Started on 1st April, 2003:

• East Coast Railway: Bhubaneshwar – Khurda Road, Waltair, Sambalpur

• South Western Railway: Hubli – Bangalore, Mysore

• West Central Railway: Jabalpur – Jabalpur, Bhopal, Kota

• North Central Railway: Prayagraj – Allahabad, Jhansi, Agra

• South East Central Railway: Bilaspur – Nagpur, Bilaspur, Raipur

Zones Created on 10th October, 2002:

• North Western Railway: Jaipur – Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer

• East Central Railway: Hajipur – Sonpur, Samastipur, Danapur, Mughalsarai, Dhanbad

Old Zones (Post-April 2003):

• Western Railway: Mumbai CST – Bhavnagar, Mumbai Central, Ratlam, Rajkot, Vadodara, Ahmedabad

• Eastern Railway: Kolkata – Howrah I & II, Malda, Sealdah, Asansol, Chitranjan, Kolkata Metro

• Central Railway: Mumbai – Bhusawal, Nagpur, Sholapur, Pune

• Southern Railway: Chennai – Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Madurai

• Northern Railway: Delhi – Ferozpur, Ambala, Lucknow, Moradabad, Delhi I & II

• North Eastern Railway: Gorakhpur – Lucknow, Varanasi, DLW, Izzatnagar

• South Central Railway: Secunderabad – Hyderabad, Guntakal, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nanded

• South Eastern Railway: Kolkata – Kharagpur, Adra, Chakradharpur, Ranchi

• North-East Frontier Railway: Guwahati – Katihar, Lumding, Tinsukia, Alipurduar, Rangiya

• The Metro Railway: Kolkata

Final Thoughts

India’s rail transport system is a vital pillar of the country's connectivity, economy, and unity. With a network of over 68,000 route kilometers and annual service to over 418 crore passengers, Indian Railways stands as a symbol of both heritage and innovation.

The division into 17 operational zones ensures better management and nationwide coverage. The introduction of modern trains like the Vande Bharat Express reflects India’s push towards indigenous, high-speed rail solutions under the ‘Make in India’ mission.

Efforts in electrification, freight growth, and the implementation of the National Rail Plan (NRP) showcase a commitment to sustainable and future-ready infrastructure. The addition of light rail systems in urban areas like Delhi and Nashik further underlines the focus on urban mobility. With continued investment and modernization, Indian Railways is poised to become a world-class transport system, connecting people, goods, and opportunities across the nation.