Indian Railways

Indian Railways (IR) is at present the second largest rail network in the world under a single management, handling 4.8 billion passengers and 510 million tonnes of freight per year and growing steadily in volume every day.  IR is one of the oldest major rail networks, starting with a 34 kms line near Mumbai as far back as April 16, 1853.

IR’s long heritage of 151 years is preserved in various places and National Rail Museum in New Delhi, Chattrapathi Shivaji Railway terminal in Mumbai and the Darjeeling Hill Railway are worth a mention. Special Steam hauled trains include the Palace on Wheels and  Royal Orient Express.

Long distance and intercity Passenger accommodation is provided in the Air Conditioned Sleeper and Sitting and standard Sleeper coaches. Maximum permissible train speed at present is 140 kmph but most trains are authorised at 110 kmph. Reservations are permitted generally three months in advance. Indrail pass is an attractive option for a longer stay in India.

IR today connects all parts of our vast and historical country and is, verily, the lifeline of the nation.  The 63028 km of track is mainly in Broad Gauge (1676 mm) with significant portion in 1 m gauge. However the most scenic links are in the mountainous regions in the north (Shimla), South (Ootacamund), into the high Himalayas (Darjeeling), all these links being on the smaller gauges . Most tourist destinations are accessible by rail.

Indian Railways is an organisation fully owned by Federal government and managed by the Indian Railways Board. Budgetary and tariff controls are exercised by the Federal Parliament. The railway network is recognized as crucial to the industrial and social development of the country. In additional to traditional maintenance facilities Indian Railways runs a number of manufacturing units for locomotives and spares, coaches, cast steel wheels and Railway cranes. Significant traffic growth have been reached in the last few decades.

Cooperation with German Railways and industry is well established. Recent technology acquisitions include 25 kV AC locomotives, Modern High Speed Coaches and Railway Cranes. German Government has also supported few aided projects.

Among development initiatives in hand are Gauge conversion projects (from Meter Gauge to Broad gauge); Participation of the State governments in Suburban and other identified railway projects, public-private partnership in specific freight projects and special funding for improvement in Safety facilities. Strategic Investment Initiatives include the National Rail Vikas Yojana (National Railway Development Project)

Information on various aspects of Indian railways, including commercial and technical, can be provided by Railway Adviser in the Indian Embassy, Berlin.