Rail travel in India
The rail network of India is the third largest in the world, and the rail system is efficient, if not always on schedule. Tracks running well over 60,000 km help connect over 7,500 stations, ferrying nearly 20 million people every day. Although distances in India are long and Indian trains aren't the world's best, travelling on them can add a fascinating new dimension to a visitor's experience. There is virtually no better way to make friends with the local people and see the spectacular and diverse Indian countryside. On many routes the railways are the fastest and cheapest way to get around.
All trains in the national network in India are operated by the government-run Indian Railways (IR).
UnderstandIndia's first commercial railway service began on 16th April 1853 at 3:35PM on its first run between Bori Bunder (in Mumbai, present-day Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Thane.
TerminologyIR often employs Hindi terms across languages for consistency, even in English. So the common Hindi terms are given below, with pronunciations and translations in brackets.
ServicesThere are a variety of trains in India depending on the route you travel. They can be broadly classified as follows:
ClassesThe Indian Railways has multiple classes of rail travel to choose from.
StationsThere are over 6000 railway stations in India, not including the metro stations. Every city has at least one station, and they have trains from other cities.
TicketingYou must have a valid ticket before boarding a train. Boarding a train without a ticket is a criminal offence in India.
Using the trainThe train ticket contains reservation information like coach numbers, seat numbers, berths, genders and ages. You have to check the coach configuration in announcements, displays or via the RailOne app.
Rolling stockIndia's rail network is almost completely electrified, except the mountain railways, and most of the trains that operate on the Indian railways are either electric multiple units (EMUs) or being hauled by AC…
ZonesThe Indian Railways (IR) network is divided into 18 zones, with a special zone for the Kolkata Metro. The names and abbreviations of these zones are commonly painted on trains in both English and Hindi.
See and doEnjoy the train, and speak to your fellow passenger. You may meet fascinating, wonderful people.
Stay safeRail travel is much safer than buses or cars, and some trains carry safety information.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rail travel in India" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0