Indian Railways

Trains run all over India.

They carry many people. They also carry heavy things.

Long ago, the first trains used steam. They carried heavy rocks.

Later, the first passenger trains began to run.

Many small companies joined to make one big group. This group is called Indian Railways. It has many workers.

Today, many tracks use power from wires.

Some trains go very fast. They can even use the sun for power.

Trains help people move across the land. They are very important.

Indian Railways is a huge system of trains in India. It is the fourth largest railway system in the world.

The system is owned by the Indian government. It employs over 1.2 million people. This makes it one of the biggest employers on Earth.

Trains in India have a long history. The first steam trains moved heavy rocks in 1837.

Later, the first passenger train ran in 1853. In 1925, the first electric train started running. Many small companies joined together in 1951. This formed the single group we know today.

Today, the trains do many jobs. They carry people and heavy goods.

Many tracks use electricity from wires for power. Most of these tracks are electrified. Some trains are very fast. The Vande Bharat Express is one of the fastest trains.

Indian Railways also works to help the Earth. They use solar power and wind power. They want to stop making carbon emissions by 2030.

Indian Railways is a massive network of trains that connects the country of India.

It is owned by the Indian government through the Ministry of Railways. This system is the fourth largest national railway in the world by size. It manages a huge amount of track and many different types of routes. Most of the tracks are broad gauge, which means they are a specific width. About 99.1% of this broad-gauge network is electrified to run on power. This system is also one of the biggest employers on Earth. It employs more than 1.2 million people across the nation.

The railway works by running many different kinds of trains every single day. It operates express trains, passenger trains, and suburban trains for people. It also runs freight trains to move heavy goods from place to place. In the 2023–24 period, it ran about 13,198 passenger trains on average each day. These trains stop at 7,325 different stations to pick up travelers. The system carried 6.905 billion passengers during that time. It also moved 1,588.06 million tonnes of freight using 11,724 freight trains daily.

The history of these trains started a long time ago. The very first steam locomotive moved cargo in Madras in 1837. Later, the first passenger train ran in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. That first passenger trip had 14 carriages and carried 400 people. In 1925, the first electric train began running in Bombay. Many small companies used to run different tracks across the land. In 1951, the government joined 42 different companies together. This created the single Indian Railways system we see today.

There are many important facts about how the system is organized. The network is divided into 18 different administrative zones. In 1950, the first locomotive factory opened at Chittaranjan. The first coach factory was set up later in Madras in 1955. Today, the inventory includes 13,569 electric locomotives and 4,169 diesel ones. There are also 16 steam locomotives still in the collection. The system uses many types of rolling stock, which are the vehicles like wagons and coaches. It owns 327,991 freight wagons and 91,948 passenger coaches.

You can see how the railways have changed by looking at modern technology. In the past, trains used steam, but now many use electricity. In 1986, the system started using computers for tickets and reservations. The first metro rail opened in Calcutta in 1984. Today, there are very fast trains like the Vande Bharat Express. This train was launched in 2019 and is very speedy. The railways are also working to be greener for the Earth. They use solar power and wind power to help reach a goal for 2030.

Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that manages the national railway system of India. It functions as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways. This massive network is the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size. It manages an extensive track length and a vast route length. Most of this network uses broad gauge, which is a specific width for railway tracks. Currently, 99.1% of the broad-gauge network is electrified. This system is also a major source of jobs. With more than 1.2 million employees, it is the ninth-largest employer in the world. It is also the second-largest employer within India itself.

The railway system operates through a complex variety of services and equipment. It runs several classes of trains, including express, passenger, suburban, and freight trains. In the 2023–24 period, the system operated an average of 13,198 passenger trains every day. These trains serve 7,325 different stations across the country. During this time, the network carried 6.905 billion passengers. Freight operations are also very large. The system operated 11,724 freight trains on average daily. These trains transported 1,588.06 million tonnes of freight.

The mechanical components of the system are known as rolling stock. This includes the locomotives that pull the trains and the vehicles they pull. Indian Railways uses self-owned manufacturing facilities to produce its coaches. The current inventory includes 13,569 electric locomotives and 4,169 diesel locomotives. There are also 16 steam locomotives remaining in the inventory. The rolling stock also consists of 327,991 freight wagons. For passengers, there are 91,948 passenger coaches, which include multiple unit coaches.

The history of Indian rail began with small, separate operations. In 1837, the first steam locomotive hauled cargo in Madras. The first passenger railway began in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. This famous trip used three steam locomotives named Sahib, Sindh, and Sultan. It carried 400 people in 14 carriages. This date is now celebrated annually as Indian Railways Day. In 1925, the first electric train ran in Bombay using DC traction. Eventually, many different companies operated across the country. In 1951, the government amalgamated 42 different companies into one single entity.

To manage such a large system, Indian Railways uses a specific organizational structure. It is governed by a Railway Board acting for the Ministry of Railways. The board has five members, including a chairman and chief executive officer. These members oversee infrastructure, traction and rolling stock, operations, and finance. The network is divided into 18 administrative zones. These zones are further subdivided into 68 operating divisions. Each division is led by a divisional railway manager. Station masters are responsible for controlling individual stations and train movements.

Technology has changed how the railways function over the decades. In 1950, the first locomotive manufacturing unit opened at Chittaranjan. The first coach manufacturing unit was set up in Madras in 1955. In 1986, the system introduced computerized ticketing and reservations. The first metro rail opened in Calcutta in 1984. More recently, the Vande Bharat Express was launched in 2019. This is a semi-high speed, self-propelled train-set. It can reach speeds of over 160 km/h. The system also uses GPS-enabled tracking for modern train management.

Today, Indian Railways is focusing on modernizing its infrastructure and environment. It has set a target to become a net-zero carbon emission railway by 2030. To help the planet, it uses rainwater harvesting at stations. It also uses reforestation along the tracks and solar-powered trains. Solar and wind power generation facilities are being installed. The system is also working to modernize its locomotives and refurbish coaches. It has even allowed private passenger trains to operate for the first time. This began in June 2022 with a train from Coimbatore.