Rail transport in India

The first proposals for railways in India were made in Madras in 1832.[6] The first train in India ran from Red Hills to Chintadripet bridge in 1837.[6] It was called Red Hill Railway and used a rotary steam locomotive manufactured by William Avery. The railway was built by Sir Arthur Cotton and was mainly used for transporting granite stones for road-building work in Madras.[6] In 1845 Cotton built the Godavari Dam Construction Railway at Dowleswaram in Rajahmundry, used to supply stones for construction of a dam over Godavari.[6]

On 8 May 1845, Madras Railway was incorporated, and East India Railway (EIR) was incorporated the same year. On 1 August 1849 Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) was incorporated by an Act of Parliament. A "Guarantee System" providing free land and guaranteeing rates of return (5%) to private English companies building railways was finalized on 17 August 1849. In 1851 the Solani Aqueduct Railway was built in Roorkee, hauled by a steam locomotive called Thomason, named after a British officer. It was used for transporting construction materials for an aqueduct over the Solani river.[6] In 1852 the Madras Guaranteed Railway Company was incorporated.

Thane railway viaducts

The smaller railway viaduct (top) and the longer railway viaduct (bottom) near Thane in 1855.

The first passenger train in India ran between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thane on 16 April 1853. The 14-carriage train was hauled by three steam locomotives: Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. It carried 400 people and ran on a line of 34 kilometres (21 mi) built and operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.[7][8] This line was built in 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, which became the standard for railways in the country. In May 1854 the Bombay–Thane line was extended to Kalyan by building India's first railway bridges, the Thane viaducts, over Thane creek.[9] In Eastern India, the first passenger railway train ran from Howrah (near Calcutta) to Hoogly on 15 August 1854. The 39-kilometre (24 mi) line was built and operated by EIR.[10] In August 1855, EIR Express and Fairy Queen steam locomotives started hauling trains.[11] The first passenger train in South India ran from Royapuram and Veyasarapady (Madras) to Wallajah Road (Arcot) on 1 July 1856 on a 97-kilometre (60 mi) line built and operated by Madras Railway.[12]

On 24 February 1873 the first tramway, a 3.8-kilometre (2.4 mi) horse-drawn tramway, opened in Calcutta between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street.[13] On 9 May 1874 a horse-drawn tramway began operation in Bombay between Colaba and Parel. In 1880 Calcutta Tramways Company was incorporated.[14]

GIPR started its first workshops in Byculla in 1854 and Madras Railway set up their first workshop at Perambur in 1856. The railway boom continued with the incorporation of Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI) in 1855,[15]Eastern Bengal Railway in 1858,[16] and East Coast State Railway in 1890. Great South Indian Railway (GSIR) and Carnatic Railway merged in 1874 to form the South Indian Railway.

In 1897 lighting in passenger coaches was introduced by many railway companies. In 1902 the Jodhpur Railway became the first to introduce electric lights as standard fixtures. In 1920 electric lighting of signals was introduced between Dadar and Currey Road in Bombay.

The first railway budget was presented in 1925. The Oudh and Rohilkhund Railway was merged with EIR in the same year.[17][18] In 1930, the route of the Grand Trunk Express was changed to Delhi-Madras.

On 3 February 1925 India's first electric passenger train ran between Victoria terminus and Kurla, on 1500 V DC overhead traction[19] with locomotives provided by Cammell Laird and Uerdingenwagonfabrik companies. Later that year the VT–Bandra section was electrified with an elevated platform at Sandhurst Road.[19] Kurla–Kalyan and lines to Poona and Igatpuri were electrified in 1926[19] and the Bandra–Virar section was electrified by January 1928. On 1 June 1930 the Deccan Queen began running, hauled by a WCP-1 (No. 20024, old No. EA/1 4006) with 7 coaches, on the GIPR's electrified route from Bombay VT to Poona.[20]

The Frontier Mail made its inaugural run in 1928 between Bombay VT and Peshawar.[21] In 1929 the Grand Trunk Express began running between Peshawar and Mangalore[22] and Punjab Limited Express began running between Mumbai and Lahore. Technical advancements saw automatic colour-light signals first become operational on GIPR's lines between Bombay VT and Byculla in 1928[23] and were extended to the Byculla–Kurla section the following year.

India's railways were re-organised into regional zones beginning in 1951[24] with the creation of Southern Railway on 14 April and Central Railway and Western Railway on 5 November.[25] The post of Chief Commissioner of Railways was abolished and the Railway Board adopted the practice of making its senior-most member Chairman.[25] Also in 1951, the government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Co. to take over its administrative functions. On 14 April 1952 Northern Railway, Eastern Railway and North-Eastern Railway were created.[25] On 1 August 1955 South-Eastern Railway was split from Eastern Railway, and the following year divisional systems of administration were set up for the various regional zones. In 1958 the North-Eastern Railway split to form a new Northeast Frontier Railway.[25]

In 1952 fans and lights were mandated for all compartments in all classes of passenger accommodation and sleeping accommodation was introduced in coaches. In 1956 the first fully air-conditioned train was introduced between Howrah and Delhi.[26] In 1966 the first containerized freight services began, between Bombay and Ahmedabad.

In 1957 India Railways took a decision to adopt 25 kV AC electrification and chose SNCF (French National Railway) as technical consultant.[27] The Main Line Electrification Project was established in the same year.[28] Raj Kharswan–Dongoposi became the first section to be electrified with 25 kV AC traction[27] with the first train running on 11 August 1960.[27] In 1966 electrification of several suburban tracks around Delhi, Madras and Calcutta was completed with the 25 kV AC system. In 1979 the Main Line Electrification Project was reconstituted into Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE).

Gatiman Express, India's fastest train introduced in 2016

A MEMU train at Kollam MEMU Shed

The Calcutta Metro became the first metro in the country[29] with the 24 October 1984 line between Esplanade and Bhowanipur (now the Netaji Bhawan station).[30] In 1988 the first Shatabdi Express was introduced between New Delhi and Jhansi (later extended to Bhopal), and was the fastest train at the time.[31] In 1993 air-conditioned 3-tier coaches were introduced as well as a sleeper class separate from second class. In 1999 South East Central was constituted. On 6 July 2002 the East Coast, South Western, South East Central, North Central, and West Central zones were created.[32] On 5 April 2016 Gatiman Express, India's fastest train at a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), made its first run from Delhi to Agra.[33]

India's first computerized ticketing and reservation was introduced at New Delhi in 1986. [34] In 1990 the first self-printing ticket machine (SPTM) was introduced. In September 1996 the CONCERT computerized reservation system was fully deployed at New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, and was completed nationwide on 18 April 1999. In 1998 coupon validating machines (CVMs) were introduced at Mumbai CST. Credit cards were accepted for booking tickets and reservations starting in 1999. Indian Railways launched its web site in February 2000[35] and began taking online train reservations and ticketing on 3 August 2002, which was extended to many cities in December.[36] On 26 September 2013 the Tatkal system of ticketing extended to ordinary trains.

On 16 January 1995 the first regularly scheduled services using the 2 × 25 kV system of traction started on Bina–Katni. On 5 February 2012 Western Railway switched completely to 25 kV AC traction, ending its use of 1.5 kV DC traction.[37] On 11 April 2016 Central Railway completed switching to 25 kV AC traction, ending the use of DC traction on the country's main-line rail network.[38] Indian Railways announced on 31 March 2017 that the entire rail network would be electrified by 2022.[39]

A WAP 7 class 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge AC electric locomotive at Baiyyappanahalli.

A WDM-3D broad-gauge diesel locomotive

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, one of the few running steam locomotives, in India

Locomotives in India largely consist of electric and diesel locomotives. The world's first compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives are also being used.[40] Steam locomotives are used only in heritage trains.

In India, locomotives are classified according to their gauge, motive power, the work they are suited for and their power or model number. The class name, composed of four or five letters, encodes this information. The first letter denotes the track gauge; the second denotes their motive power, diesel or alternating current (electric); the third letter denotes the type of traffic for which they are suited (goods, passenger, multi or shunting). The fourth letter used to denote the chronological model number but from 2002 denotes the horsepower range for diesel locomotives. Electric locomotives don't come under this scheme and not all diesels are covered; for these, the fourth letter denotes their chronological model number.

A locomotive may have a fifth letter in its class name which denotes a technical variant, subclass or subtype, indicating a variation in the basic model or series, possibly different motors or a different manufacturer. With the new scheme for classifying diesel locomotives (as mentioned above) the fifth letter further refines the horsepower indication in 100 hp (75 kW) increments: 'A' for 100 hp, 'B' for 200 hp, 'C' for 300 hp, etc. In this scheme, a WDM-3A refers to a wide-gauge diesel multi-use 3100 hp loco, while a WDM-3D would be a 3400 hp loco and WDM-3F would be 3600 hp loco.

Note: This classification system does not apply to heritage steam locomotives which retain their historical class names such as M class or WP class.

Diesel locomotives have been fitted with auxiliary power units which save nearly 88% of fuel while idling.[41]

The number of goods wagons was 205,596 on 31 March 1951 and peaked at 405,183 on 31 March 1980, after which it declined to 239,321 on 31 March 2012. The number is far less than that required for demand and Indian Railways loses freight traffic to road carriers. The railway carried 93 million tonnes of goods in 1950–51, increasing to 1010 million tonnes in 2012–13.[42]

However, its share in goods traffic is much lower than road traffic. In 1951, its share was 65%, and the share of the road was 35%. Now the shares have been reversed, and the proportion of railways has declined to 30% while the share of road has increased to 70%.

Since the 1990s, Indian Railways has stopped single-wagon consignments and provides only full-rake freight trains.

Wagon types include:[43] BOXN = BOXN-HL, BOXN-HS, BOXN-HL, BOXN-CR, BOXN-LW, BOXN-AL, BOXN-EL, BOBYN, BCNA, BCNHL, BTPN, BCACBM, BCCN, BOBRN, BRH, BTPGLN, VVN.

IR has several types of passenger coaches. (See §Passenger services, below.)

The coaches used in IR are produced at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai ; Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli. This includes the new Linke-Hofmann (LHB) coaches.

Electric multiple unit (EMU) coaches are used for suburban traffic in large cities – mainly Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. These coaches numbered 7,793 on 31 March 2012. They have second-class and first-class seating accommodation.

Passenger coaches numbered 46,722 and other coaches (luggage coach, parcel van, guard's coach, mail coach, etc.) numbered 6,560 on 31 March 2012.

Comparison of gauges in India with the standard gauge

As of March 2017, IR network spans 121,407 km (75,439 mi) of track length, while the route length is 67,368 km (41,861 mi).[45] Track sections are rated for speeds ranging from 80 to 200 km/h (50 to 124 mph), though the maximum speed attained by passenger trains is 180 km/h (110 mph). As of March 2017, most of the broad-gauge network is equipped with long-welded rails, pre-stressed concrete (PSC) sleepers and high tensile strength 52kg/60kg 90 UTS rails.[45]

1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, is the predominant gauge used by IR and spans 61,680 km (38,330 mi) of route (92% of total route network). It is the broadest gauge in use across the world for passenger movement.[45] Broad gauge generated 100% of the freight output (Net tonne-Kilometres) and more than 99% of the passenger output (Passenger Kilometres) in the fiscal year 2016-17.[46]

The 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge tracks; 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) and 610 mm (2 ft) narrow gauge tracks are present on decreasing number of routes. All of these routes, except the heritage routes, are being converted to broad gauge. The metre gauge tracks were 3,479 kilometres (2,162 mi) (5% of total route network) and narrow gauges tracks were 2,208 km (1,372 mi) (3% of total route network) as of 31 March 2017.[45]

Urban rail transit systems in India mostly use standard gauge tracks. These systems are operated by metro/tram rail corporations which are independent of Indian Railways. Trams in Kolkata, the only remaining tram service in the country uses standard gauge tracks. The Line 1 of Kolkata Metro and Delhi Metro use same broad gauge tracks as main-line railways. All other metro lines — constructed, under construction, future — use standard gauge tracks.[47] Metro trains operate in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi and Lucknow. Gurgaon has a Metro system operated by a private organisation. Metro tracks are being constructed or planned in all million-plus cities in the country.

As of 31 March 2019, IR has electrified 51% or 35,488 km (22,051 mi) of the route kilometers and 46% or 55,240 km (34,320 mi) of the total running track. India uses 25 kV AC traction on all of its electrified tracks.[48]

Railway electrification in India began with the first 1500 V DC electric train between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla on Harbour Line in 1925. Steep gradients on the Western Ghats necessitated the introduction of electric traction on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) up to Igatpuri on the North East line and to Pune on the South East line. 1500 V DC traction was introduced on the suburban section of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI) between Colaba and Borivili in 1928, and between Madras Beach and Tambaram of the then existing Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway in 1931. This was primarily to meet the growing traffic on these metros. The electrification of the Howrah–Burdwan section of the Eastern Railway was done at 3000 V DC and completed in 1958.

The 25 kV AC system of traction emerged as an economical modernization resulting from research and trials in Europe, particularly on French Railways (SNCF). Indian Railways adopted this standard in 1957, first operational on the Raj Kharswan–Dongoaposi section on the South Eastern Railway in 1960. The first 25 kV AC electric multiple unit (EMU) coaches which were for Kolkata suburban services were inaugurated in September 1962. With a view to provide continuity of traction system, the Howrah–Burdwan section of the Eastern Railway and Madras Beach–Tambaram section of the Southern Railway were converted to the 25 kV AC system by 1968. Considering the limitations in the DC traction system, a decision was made in 1996–97 to convert to 25 kV AC. Conversion from DC traction to AC traction was completed on Western Railway in 2012 and on Central Railway in 2016. Since then, the entire electrified mainline rail network in India uses 25 kV AC, and DC traction is used only for metros and trams.

Indian Railways announced on 31 March 2017 that the country's entire rail network would be electrified by 2022.[39]

IR uses a range of signalling technologies and methods to manage its train operations based on traffic density and safety requirements.

As of March 2017, around 2,850 kilometres (1,770 mi) of the route uses automatic block signalling for train operations - concentrated in high density routes, large cities and junctions.[49] Remaining routes are based on absolute block signalling with trains manually controlled by signal men from the signal boxes typically located at stations. Few low density routes still use manual block signalling methods with communication on track clearance based on physical exchange of tokens.[50] In a few sections, intermediate block signalling is provided to further enhance line capacity with minimal investment. As of March 2017. 501 block sections have intermediate block signals on IR.[49]

IR primarily uses coloured signal lights, which replaced semaphores and disc-based signalling (dependent on position or colour).[51] IR uses two-aspect, three-aspect and four (or multiple) aspect colour signalling across its network.[52]

Signals at most stations are interlocked using Panel Interlocking, Route-Relay Interlocking or Electronic Interlocking methods that eliminate scope for human signalling errors. IR uses track circuiting, and block proving axle counters for train detection.

As of March 2017, 5584 stations across IR (about 90% of stations on Broad Gauge) have interlocked stations and multi-aspect signalling. Around 99% of key routes (A, B, C and D) have track circuitry or block proving axle counters for automated train detection. Also, IR has about 51,000 Route kilometers of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network across India, that is used for train control, voice and data communication. Around 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) of route is covered by GSM-R based Mobile Train Radio Communication.[49]

In December 2017, IR announced that it will implement ETCS Level 2 system for signalling and control on key routes with an investment of ₹12,000 crore (US$1.7 billion).[53] Currently IR uses Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) on the busy Ghaziabad - Kanpur route and real-time train monitoring systems on Mumbai and Kolkata suburban routes.[49]

Rail links between India and neighbouring countries are not well developed. Two trains operate to Pakistan: the Samjhauta Express between Delhi and Lahore, and the Thar Express between Jodhpur and Karachi. Bangladesh is connected by the biweekly Maitree Express, which runs from Kolkata to Dhaka, and Bandhan Express, which began running commercial trips between Kolkata and Khulna in November 2017.[54][55]

Two rail links to Nepal exist: A 59 Km passenger service between Jainagar and Bijalpura via Janakpur which is Run and Operated by Nepal Railways and freight services between Raxaul and Birganj.[56]

Indian and Bangladeshi governments planned to start work by January 2015 on a new rail link to ease surface transport.[57] India will build a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) railway linking Tripura's capital Agartala with Bangladesh's southeastern city of Akhaura, an important railway junction connected to Chittagong port, resource-rich Sylhet and Dhaka.[58] An agreement to implement the railway project was signed between India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina during her visit to India in January 2010.[59] Total cost of the proposed project is estimated at ₹252 crore (₹2.5 billion). The Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON) would lay the new railway tracks on both sides of the border. Of the 15 km rail line, 5 km of tracks fall in Indian territory.[60][61] The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) is laying tracks to connect Tripura's southern-most border town, Sabroom, 135 km (84 mi) south of here. From Sabroom, the Chittagong international sea port is 72 km (45 mi)[62]

No rail link exists with Myanmar but a railway line is to be built from Jiribam (in Manipur) to Tamu through Imphal and Moreh.[63] The construction of this missing link, as per the feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs through RITES Ltd, is estimated to cost ₹29.41 billion (US$410 million).[64] An 18-kilometre (11 mi) railway link with Bhutan is being constructed from Hashimara in West Bengal to Toribari in Bhutan. No rail link exists with either China or Sri Lanka.[65]

From December 2017, stations are categorised into the Non-Suburban Group NSG1 to NSG6, the Suburban Group SG1 to SG3, and the Halt Group HG1 to HG3 based on the earnings,passenger footfall and strategic importance.[66]

Before December 2017, stations were classified into A1, A, B, C, D, E and F categories, based only on the passenger earnings from the sales of platform tickets, thus limiting the ability of IR to better focus its investments in passenger amenities .[66]

Interior of a First Class (1A) compartment in the Rajdhani Express

Interior of a 3-tier AC (3AC) compartment of the Dakshin Express

Interior of an air-conditioned Chair Car (CC) coach in a Jan Shatabdi Express.

IR has several classes of travel with or without air conditioning; a train may include just one or several of these. Slow passenger trains have only unreserved seating class whereas Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi, Garib Rath and Yuva trains have only air-conditioned classes. The fares are different for each class with unreserved seating class being the cheapest. The fare of Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains includes food served in the train, but for other trains food has to be bought separately. From September 2016, the IR have introduced dynamic fares for all accommodation classes for Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains (except 1AC and EC classes) to shore up revenue.[67] In long-distance trains a pantry car is usually included and the food is served at the berth or seat itself. Luxury trains such as Palace on Wheels have separate dining cars but fares are comparable to a five-star hotel.

A standard passenger train has four unreserved (also called "general") coaches, two at the front and two at the end, of which one may be exclusively for ladies. The number of other coaches varies according to the demand and route. A luggage coach may be included at the front or back. In some mail trains, a separate mail coach is attached. Lavatories are communal and feature both the Indian style as well as the Western style.

The following table lists the classes in operation. A train may not include all of these classes.

At the rear of the train is a special compartment known as the guard's cabin. It is fitted with a transceiver and is where the guard usually gives the all-clear signal before the train departs.

The Mumbai Rajdhani Express. The long-distance, high-speed Rajdhani Expresses connect state capitals and large cities with New Delhi.

Secunderabad-Yeshwanthpur Garib Rath Express, an economy air-conditioned train

Trains are sorted into categories which dictate the number of stops on a route, their priority on the network and their fare structure. Each express train is identified by a five-digit number. if the first digit is 1 or 2 in the train number, they are long-distance express trains. If the first digit is 0, the train is a special train which will operate for a limited period of time with a different fare structure. A first digit of 5 denotes a passenger train.

The second digit indicates the zone operating the train. However, for high-speed trains, the second digit is either 0 or 2 (the first remains 1 or 2).[74] The third digit denotes the division within the zone which is responsible for maintenance and cleanliness, and the last two digits are the train's serial number.[74] The train numbering system was changed from four digits from December 2010,[75] to accommodate an increasing number of trains.

Trains traveling in opposite directions along the same route are usually labelled with consecutive numbers.[74] However, there is considerable variation in train numbers; some zones, such as Central Railway, have a less-systematic method of numbering trains.[74]

Trains are classified by average speed.[76] A faster train has fewer stops (halts) than a slower one, and is usually used for long-distance travel. Most express trains have special names to identify them easily. The names of the trains usually denote the regions they connect, the routes they traverse; a famous person or a tourist spot connected with the train.[77][78]

There are several train services which run for tourists:

• The Palace on Wheels is a luxury-train service, frequently hauled by a steam locomotive, to promote tourism in Rajasthan.[80] The train has a seven-night, eight-day itinerary on a round trip from New Delhi via Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra.
• The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels covers a number of tourist destinations in Rajasthan. The seven-day, eight-night tour is a round trip from New Delhi's Safdarjung station via Jodhpur, Udaipur and Chittaurgarh, Ranthambore National Park and Jaipur, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Sarnath, and Agra.[81]
• The Maharajas' Express, a luxury train operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), runs on five routes[82] to about 12 destinations across north-West and central India (centered around Rajasthan) from October to April.
• The Deccan Odyssey covers tourist destinations in Maharashtra and Goa. Its seven-night, eight-day tour begins in Mumbai and stops at Jaigad Fort, Ganapatipule and Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Tarkarli and Sawantwadi, Goa, Kolhapur and Pune (Day 5), Aurangabad and Ellora Caves, and Ajanta Caves and Nashik.[83] The Golden Chariot runs on two tours: Pride of the South[84] and Splendor of the South.[85]
• The Golden Chariot is a luxury train service which connects tourist destinations in Karnataka, Goa, Kerala & Tamil Nadu.
• The Mahaparinirvan Express, an air-conditioned service also known as the Buddhist Circuit Train, is run by the IRCTC for Buddhist pilgrims. Its seven-night, eight-day tour begins in New Delhi and visits Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda, Varanasi and Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini, Sravasti and the Taj Mahal.[86]
• The Fairy Queen, a tourist attraction as the world's oldest operating steam engine, hauls a luxury train from Delhi to Alwar.

An Indian Railway ticket from Bangalore to Pune on Lokmanya Tilak Terminus - Coimbatore Express

India has some of the lowest train fares in the world. Basic passenger traffic is heavily subsidised by more-expensive higher-class fares.[87] Until the late 1980s, Indian Railways ticket reservations were done manually. In 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. 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, through the Internet and via mobile phones, though this method carries an additional surcharge.

Discounted tickets are available for senior citizens (above 60 years) and some other categories of passengers including the disabled, students, athletes, persons affected by serious diseases, or persons appearing for competitive examinations. One compartment of the lowest class of accommodation is reserved for ladies in every passenger-carrying train. Some berths or seats in sleeper class and second class are also reserved for ladies.[88] Season tickets permitting unlimited travel on specific sections or specific trains for a specific time period may also be available. Foreign tourists can buy an Indrail Pass,[89] which is modelled on the Eurail Pass, permitting unlimited travel in India for a specific time period.

For long-distance travel, reservation of a berth can be made up to 120 days before departure.[88] 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 waitlist number; otherwise the ticket is confirmed and a berth number is printed on the ticket. A person receiving a wait-listed ticket may be able to obtain a confirmed ticket if there are sufficient cancellations.[88][89] Some of the tickets are assigned to the Reservation against Cancellation (RAC), which is between the waiting list and the confirmed list.[88][89] 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 a seat is vacant.

Reserved railway tickets can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)[90] 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 travelling on an eTicket, one must carry an authorised valid photo identity card. 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. For frequent commuters, a season pass (monthly or quarterly) guarantees unlimited travel between two stops.

In 1999, the Konkan Railway Corporation introduced the Roll on Roll off (RORO) service, a unique road–rail system, on the section between Kolad in Maharashtra and Verna in Goa,[91] which was extended in 2004 to Surathkal in Karnataka.[92][93] The RORO service, the first of its kind in India, allowed trucks to be transported on flatbed trailers. It was highly popular,[94] carrying about 110,000 trucks and bringing in about ₹740 million worth of earnings to the corporation by 2007.[95]

A suburban train in Chennai

The Mumbai Suburban Railway is India's first commuter rail system and transports 7.5 million passengers daily, the highest passenger-density in the world.[96][97] The Kolkata Suburban Railway was established in Kolkata in 1854.[98]

The operational suburban rail systems in India are Mumbai Suburban Railway, Kolkata Suburban Railway, Lucknow–Kanpur Suburban Railway, Chennai Suburban Railway, Delhi Suburban Railway, Pune Suburban Railway, Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System, Barabanki–Lucknow Suburban Railway and Pernem–Karwar Suburban Railway.[99] Other planned systems are Bengaluru Commuter Rail, Ahmedabad Suburban Railway and Coimbatore Suburban Railway.

A metro in Kochi

The first modern rapid transit in India is the Kolkata Metro (covers part of Howrah also) which started operations in 1984, as the 17th Zone of Indian Railways.[100] The Delhi Metro in New Delhi (covers parts of Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Jhajjar also) is India's second conventional metro and began operations in 2002. The Namma Metro in Bangalore became India's third rapid-transit system in 2011. Following these were Rapid Metro in Gurgaon, Mumbai Metro (covers parts of Palghar, Raigad and Thane also), Jaipur Metro, Chennai Metro, Kochi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, Lucknow Metro, Noida Metro, Nagpur Metro and Ahmedabad Metro (covers part of Gandhinagar also).

Further systems in planning include:surat metro ,Navi Mumbai Metro, Varanasi Metro, Thane Metro, Kanpur Metro, Pune Metro, Vijayawada Metro, Patna Metro, Meerut Metro, Guwahati Metro, Bhopal Metro, Kozhikode Light Metro, Indore Metro, Gorakhpur Metro, Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro, Agra Metro, Coimbatore Metro, Visakhapatnam Metro, Dehradun Metro, Srinagar Metro, Greater Gwalior Metro, Jabalpur Metro and Greater Nashik Metro. Some of these may be under construction and planned to be opened shortly.

A monorail in Mumbai

Monorail is generally considered a feeder system for the metro trains in India. The Mumbai Monorail, which started in 2014, is the first operational monorail network in India[101] (excluding the Skybus Metro) since the Patiala State Monorail Trainways closed in 1927.

Other planned systems are Chennai Monorail, Kolkata Monorail, Allahabad Monorail, Bengaluru Monorail, Delhi Monorail, Indore Monorail, Kanpur Monorail, Navi Mumbai Monorail, Patna Monorail, Pune Monorail, Ahmedabad Monorail, Aizawl Monorail, Bhubaneswar Monorail, Jodhpur Monorail, Kota Monorail, Nagpur Monorail and Nashik Monorail.

Like monorail, light rail is also considered a feeder for the metro systems. The planned systems are Kolkata Light Rail Transit and Delhi Light Rail Transit.

A tram in Kolkata

In addition to trains, trams were introduced in many cities in late 19th century, though almost all of these were phased out. The trams in Kolkata are currently the only tram system in the country. The nationalised Calcutta Tramways Company is in the process of upgrading the existing tramway network at a cost of ₹240 million (US$3.4 million).[102]

Infrastructure modernisation projects include high-speed rail, with the first Ahmdabad-Mumbai train in operation in 2025;[111][112][113] redevelopment of 400 stations by monetizing 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) of spare railway land under a ₹1,070,000 crore (US$150 billion) plan;[114] doubling tracks to reduce congestion and delays while improving safety (15,000 km of double track existed in 2016, and funding for 12,500 km more was approved that year);[115] the refurbishing of 12- to 15-year-old coaches at the Carriage Rehabilitation Workshop in Bhopal to enhance passenger amenities and fire safety;[116][117] Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled tracking of trains to improve safety and service;[118] Digital India-driven ₹3,500,000 million (equivalent to ₹4.0 trillion or US$55 billion in 2019) digitalisation of the railway to improve efficiency and reduce cost;[115] rainwater harvesting, with 1885 systems installed by December 2016,[119] and reforestation of railway land and along the tracks.[120]

All routes will be electrified to save on imported-fuel costs (48 percent of the network was electrified by May 2016, with full electrification planned by March 2021.[115] Off-the-grid Solar-powered trains are planned with the installation of one gigawatt of solar and 130 megawatts of wind power between 2017 and 2022; India introduced the world's first solar-powered train and 50 coaches with rooftop solar farms in June 2017.[121][122][123] Rooftop solar electricity is planned at stations to reduce long-term fuel costs and protect the environment,[124] and sustainable LED lighting at all stations is planned by March 2018 to cut electricity costs.[125] Locomotive factories have been modernised, including two new factories in Bihar: an electric locomotive factory in Madhepura and a diesel locomotive factory in Marhaura, and 2,285 bio-toilets were introduced from April to July 2014.[126][127][128] A ₹200 billion (US$2.8 billion) partnership with Alstom to supply 800 electric locomotives from 2018 to 2028 was announced.[110]

Safety projects include the elimination of an average of 1,217 unguarded level crossings per year by building an average of 1,066 overpasses and underpasses per year;[129][115] an automated fire alarm system on Rajdhani Express trains was begun in 2013, extending to the air-conditioned coaches of all trains,[130] and 6,095 GPS-enabled Fog Pilot Assistance System railway signalling devices (replacing the practice of placing firecrackers on tracks to alter train drivers) installed in 2017 in four zones: Northern, North Central, North Eastern and North Western.[131]