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Indian Railways: A Journey from Steam to Speed

  • News: Railways in India began with the first passenger train (a Steam engine) running between Bombay and Thane on 16th April, 1853.

    • Approximately 400 passengers boarded the train for the inaugural run. 

    • The train consisted of 14 passenger carriages operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) and was pulled by a steam locomotive named "Falkland". 

    • The departure was accompanied by a ceremonial 21-gun salute, symbolising the beginning of railway transport in India.

    • The train successfully completed its journey of about 34–35 kilometres, demonstrating the practical potential of railways for passenger movement.

    • In 1895, the first steam locomotive built in India was produced at the Ajmer Workshop of the Rajputana Malwa Railway. 

      • This represented an important step towards domestic railway engineering and maintenance capability.

    • In India, the transition towards electric traction began in 1925, when the country’s first electric train operated between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla Harbour.

 

    • The clear minimum distance between the running faces of the two rails is called Gauge.

    • Depending upon the gauge, Indian Railways has the following categories of track:

      • Broad Gauge – 1.6 metre

      • Metre Gauge – 1 metre

      • Narrow Gauge– 0.76 metre and 0.6 metre

      • Standard Gauge – 1.43 metre

    • As of March 2026, the transformation is nearly complete, with 99.6% railway network electrified out of the total 70,142 broad gauge route kilometers.

    • Advantage

      • Reducing the need for crude oil imports: Railway electrification saved approximately 180 crore litres of diesel in 2024–25, 

      • Electric traction is environmentally friendly and about 70% more economical than diesel traction.

      • Electrification has resulted in savings of approximately ₹6,000 crore, with diesel consumption steadily declining.

      • Launched: February 2019

      • It is India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured semi-high-speed train.

      • The service represents a major step towards modern, comfortable, and technology-driven rail travel under the Make in India initiative.

      • The Vande Bharat Sleeper service, 

        • launched: January 2026.

    • To provide affordable transportation for low- and middle-income families, Indian Railways has introduced the Amrit Bharat Express. 

    • They are a new generation of fully non-AC modern trains designed to improve comfort and safety while maintaining economical travel options.

    • As of 18th March 2026, a total of 60 Amrit Bharat Express services are being operated across the Indian Railways network.

    • The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record capital outlay of ₹2,78,000 crore for Indian Railways.

      • As part of this vision, the development of seven high-speed rail corridors has been announced as growth connectors.

    • The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor

      • Maximum speed: 320 kilometres per hour.

      • Total length: ~508 kilometres. 

      •  It represents India’s first concrete step towards introducing high-speed rail systems in the country. 

  • Key Facts: 

    • 4th Largest network in the world.

    • 26% of the freight traffic in the country is contributed by the Indian Railways.

    • Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (2022)

    • National Rail Plan (NRP) for India 2030.

    • Government has allowed 100% FDI in the railway sector.

    • Kavach System: Kavach commissioned over 3,100 route kilometres, with implementation underway on an additional 24,400 kilometres.

    • Kakodkar Committee (2012)

    • Bibek Debroy Committee (2014)

    • Vinod Rai Committee (2015)

Source: PIB