Indian and Bangladeshi governments has started work on a new rail link to ease surface
transport.[68] India will build a 13 km (8.1 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.[69] An agreement to implement the railway
project was signed between the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh
Premier Sheikh Hasina during the latter's visit to India in January 2010.[70] Total cost of the
proposed project is estimated at ₹252 crore (US$35 million). The Indian Railway Construction
Company (IRCON) is constructing the new railway tracks on both sides of the border. Of the
13 km (8.1 mi) rail line, 5 km (3.1 mi) of tracks fall in Indian territory.[71][72] The Northeast Frontier
Railways (NFR) is laying the connecting tracks for the new rail link on the Indian side, up to
Tripura's southern-most border town, Sabroom – 135 km (84 mi) south of Agartala.
From Sabroom, the Chittagong international sea port is 72 km (45 mi) away.[73]
No rail link currently exist with Myanmar, but a railway line is to be built from Jiribam (in Manipur)
to Tamu through Imphal and Moreh.[74] 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).[75]
An 18 km (11 mi) railway link with Bhutan is being constructed from Hashimara in West Bengal to
Toribari in Bhutan.
No rail link currently exist with either China or Sri Lanka.[76]
Services[edit]
Passenger service[edit]
Station categories[edit]
From December 2017, stations are categorised into the Non-Suburban Groups NSG1 to NSG6,
the Suburban Groups SG1 to SG3, and the Halt Groups HG1 to HG3 based on the earnings,
passenger footfall, and strategic importance.[77]
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.[77]
Travel classes[edit]
Interior of a first-class compartment on the Rajdhani Express
Interior of a three-tier compartment on the Dakshin Express
Interior of an air-conditioned chair-car coach on the Jan Shatabdi Express
Interior of a sleeper coach
Main article: Indian Railways coaching stock
IR has several classes of travel, with or without air-conditioning. A train may have one or several
classes. Slow passenger trains have only unreserved seating, and the Rajdhani
Express, Shatabdi Express, Garib Rath Express, Double Decker Express, Tejas
Express, Humsafar Express , Duronto Express , Yuva Express, and Vande Bharat Express have
only air-conditioned classes. Fares for all classes differ, and unreserved seating is the least
expensive. Fares for the Rajdhani, Duronto Shatabdi and Vande Bharat Express trains include
food. In September 2016, IR introduced dynamic fares for the Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi
trains (except 1AC and EC classes) to increase revenue.[78] Long-distance trains usually include
a pantry car, and food is served at the passengers' berth or seat. Luxury trains (such as Palace
on Wheels) have separate dining cars, but these trains cost as much as—or more than—a five-
star hotel room.[79]
A standard passenger rake has four unreserved (general) compartments, two at the front and
two at the rear (one of which may be for women). The number of other coaches varies by
demand and route. A luggage compartment may be at the front or the rear. On some mail trains,
a separate mail coach is attached. Lavatories are communal, and Indian- and Western-style. The
classes in operation are (although a train may not have all these classes):
Class[80] Description[81][82]
Saloon IR has started to operate saloon coaches to give hotel ambience on trains. These
coaches operate on charter basis i.e. booking is required. These have a master
bedroom, one normal bedroom, one kitchen and window trailing. Four to six extra
beds are given to accommodate more people.[83] First of these coach was
attached to Jammu Mail.[84]
1A AC first class: The most luxurious and expensive class of Indian Railways, with
fares almost at par with airfares. There are eight cabins (including two coupes) in
a full AC first class coach and three cabins (including one coupe) in a half AC
first class coach. The coach has a dedicated attendant and bedding is included in
the fare. This air-conditioned coach, present only on popular routes, can carry 18
(full coach) or 10 passengers (half coach).
2A AC two tier: These air-conditioned coaches have sleeping berths across eight
bays (full coach). Berths are usually arranged in two tiers in bays of six: four
across the width of the coach and two lengthwise across the corridor, with
curtains along the corridor. Bedding is included in the fare. A coach can carry 48
(full coach) or 20 passengers (half coach).
3A AC three tier: Air-conditioned coaches with 64 sleeping berths. Berths are
similar to 2A, but with three tiers across the width and two lengthwise for eight
bays of eight. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually with no reading lights
or curtains. Bedding is included in the fare.
3E AC three tier (economy): Air-conditioned coaches with 81 sleeping berths on
the Garib Rath Express. Berths are usually arranged as in 3A, but with three tiers
across the width and three lengthwise. Appointments are similar to 3A, but
bedding is not included. These coaches are also present in some Duronto
Express trains as well.
IR operates Vistadome glass roof coaches on some tourist routes. These include
Araku Valley, Konkan Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Kashmir Valley, Kangra
Vistadom
Valley and Neral-Matheran Route. These coaches' fares are equivalent to AC
e
Executive Chair Car. IR also has plans to start Vistadome on Nilgiri Mountain
Railway.[85]
EA Anubhuti: Air-conditioned top-end class of Shatabdi Express. These coaches
were introduced in January 2018. The first train to get these coaches was
the Chennai Central–Mysuru Shatabdi Express.
EC Executive chair car: An air-conditioned coach with spacious seats and legroom.
With four seats in a row, it is used for intercity day travel and is available on
the Tejas , Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express.
CC AC chair car: An air-conditioned coach with five seats in a row, used for intercity
day travel. Air-conditioned double-deck coaches are used on the Double Decker
Express, Shatabdi Express, Vande Bharat Express, and Intercity services.
SL Sleeper class: The sleeper class is the most common coach on IR, with ten or
more SL coaches attached to a train rake. They are sleeping coaches with three
berths across the width and two lengthwise, without air-conditioning. They carry
72 passengers per coach.
2S Second seater: similar to CC, but without air-conditioning. Double-deck second
seaters are used on the Flying Ranee.
UR/GEN Unreserved/General: The least-expensive accommodation, with a seat not
guaranteed. Tickets are valid on any train on a route if used within 24 hours of
purchase.
At the rear of the train is the guard's cabin. It contains a transceiver, and is where the guard
usually gives the all-clear signal before the train departs.
Train types[edit]
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Main articles: Train numbering, Named passenger trains, Longest train services, and Longest
non-stop run
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 in the train number is 1 or 2, 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).[86] 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.[86] The train numbering system was changed from four digits from December
2010,[87] to accommodate the increasing number of trains.
Trains traveling in opposite directions along the same route are usually labelled with consecutive
numbers.[86] However, there is considerable variation in train numbers; some zones, such
as Central Railway, have a less-systematic method of numbering trains.[86]
Trains are classified by average speed.[88] 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, or a famous person or tourist spot connected with the train.[89][90]
Train
Description
types
A semi-high-speed, air-conditioned day time journey train with facilities such as Wi-Fi,
snack tables, CCTV cameras, hydraulic-pressure doors, and a fire and smoke
Vande
detection and extinguishing system. It can run at a speed of 200 km/h. It is the first hi-
Bharat
tech locomotive-less (EMU) train set made in India. It was flagged off on 15 February
Express
2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The model number for this particular train set
is Train 18.
A semi-high-speed, air-conditioned train which had its inaugural run on 24 May 2017,
covering 551.7 km (343 mi) in 8 hours 30 minutes. Coaches have bio-vacuum toilets,
water-level indicators, tap sensors, hand dryers, integrated Braille displays, an LED TV
Tejas
for each passenger with a phone jack, local cuisine, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee vending
Express
machines, magazines, snack tables, CCTV cameras, and a fire and smoke detection
and extinguishing system. It can run at a speed of 200 km/h but it is restricted to
130 km/h due to some technical reasons.
Gatimaa
The first semi-high-speed, air-conditioned train running between Delhi and Jhansi with
n
a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph)
Express
Air-conditioned, intercity trains for daytime travel. Unlike the Rajdhani or Duronto
Expresses, the Shatabdi expresses make a round trip on the same day. The Bhopal
Shatabdi
Shatabdi Express (train number 12001/12002) is India's second-fastest train between
Express
New Delhi and Agra, with an average speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) and a top speed of
150 km/h (93 mph). The limited-stop trains have Wi-Fi.
Rajdhani Limited-stop, air-conditioned trains linking state capitals to the national capital, New
Delhi, with a top speed of 130–140 km/h (81–87 mph). The 2014 railway budget
Express proposed increasing the numbers of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Expresses to 180 km/h
(110 mph).
Non-stop (except for technical halts) service introduced in 2009. In January 2016, it
became possible to book tickets from those technical stops. They connect India's
Duronto
metros and major state capitals, and were introduced to equal (or exceed) the speed of
Express
the Rajdhani Express. With air-conditioned one-, two-, or three-tier seating, some have
non-air-conditioned sleeper-class accommodations.
Air-conditioned, three-tier coach trains with LED screens displaying information about
Humsafa stations and train speed, a PA system, vending machines for tea and coffee, charging
r ports for electronic devices, bio-toilets, smoke alarms, CCTV cameras, curtains, and
Express heating and refrigeration facilities for food. Its inaugural run was
between Gorakhpur to Anand Vihar Terminal.
AC Air-conditioned, limited-stop trains linking major cities, with a speed of about 130 km/h
Express (81 mph).
Double
Decker Air-conditioned, limited-stop, two-tier express trains for daytime travel
Express
Uday
Air-conditioned double decker train for overnight travel.
Express
Garib
Rath Air-conditioned, economy, three-tier trains with a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).
Express
Introduced with the Duronto Express to provide air-conditioned travel to young Indians,
Yuva 60 percent of its seats were reserved for passengers between 18 and 45 years of age.
Express The trains were unsuccessful, and operate only on the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-
Mumbai routes.
Jan
A more-economical version of the Shatabdi Express, with air-conditioned and non-air-
Shatabdi
conditioned classes and a top speed of 110 km/h (68 mph)
Express
Sampark
Kranti Express service to New Delhi.
Express
Kavi
Introduced in honor of Rabindranath Tagore, four pairs of the trains operate on the
Guru
network.
Express
Vivek Introduced to commemorate the 150th birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in
Express 2013, four pairs of Vivek Expresses run in the country.
Rajya
Rani Introduced to connect state capitals to major cities in that state.
Express
Mahama
na Superfast train with Indian Railways' model rake coaches.
Express
Intercity Introduced to connect major cities on short routes with high and semi-high speeds.
Express Trains include the Deccan Queen, Flying Ranee and Bilaspur Nagpur Intercity Express.
Antyoda
ya Non-reserved, high-speed LHB coaches on peak routes to ease congestion.
Express
Jan
Sadhara
Non-reserved express trains on peak routes to ease congestion.
n
Express
Suvidha
High priority trains with dynamic pricing on high demand routes.
Express
Superfas Trains with a max speed greater than 100–110 km/h (62–68 mph) and an average
t speed greater than 55 km/h (34 mph). With stops at very few stations, the tickets for
Express these trains have a superfast surcharge.
Trains with a max speed greater than 100 km/h (62 mph) and an average speed
Express
greater than 36 km/h (22 mph), with stops at few stations.
These trains earlier had separate mail coaches. Nowadays, mail is carried in
Mail
the luggage coach like all other trains.
Passeng Slow, economical trains which stop at every (or almost every) station on a route. With
er generally-unreserved seating, these trains travel at about 40–80 km/h (25–50 mph).
These trains operate
Suburba in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Bengal
n uru, Pune and between Kanpur and Lucknow, usually stop at every station, and have
unreserved seating.
Designed for urban transport, the first metro was the Kolkata Metro in 1984.[91] 13 metro
Metro
systems currently exist, in a total of 21 cities.
Mountain Three of the lines were declared a World Heritage Site as "Mountain Railways of India"
Railways by UNESCO.[92]
Tourism[edit]
Indian Railway operates tourist train or coach services on popular tourist circuits in different
regions of the country. The service offers tour packages inclusive of rail travel, local
transportation, accommodation, food and guided tours. IR offers various tourist services in this
segment including Luxury tourist trains, Semi luxury trains, Buddhist special trains, Bharat
Darshan trains, Aastha Circuit tr
