Indian Railways – Travel in One of the Largest Rail Systems in the World


Indian Railways, one of the largest rail systems in the world, was established on the 16th of April 1853. This mode of transportation functions under the Ministry of Railways and is owned and managed by Government of India. It covers all the parts of the country and is the second largest commercial or utility employer in the world.

Indian Railways not only carries passengers but also transports goods to every nook and corner of the country. No wonder, it plays a key role in the economic development of the country. Technically, the rail system in India operates on four different gauges: broad gauge, standard gauge, meter gauge and narrow gauge. The broad gauge is more prevalently used in India while meter gauge and narrow gauge are used in less traffic and hilly terrains respectively. Traveling in Indian trains need ticket reservation and this done by visiting the reservation counters or online using the Internet connection. The travel agents available all over the country can also help you book your tickets, especially during holidays and vacations.


Indian Railways also promotes tourism and catering by providing many facilities to its passengers online. Today other than booking tickets online, you can find information on trains, check the PNR status, book hotels near to your destinations, book air flights, travel in tourist trains, and so on. The introduction of E-tickets is the other landmark of Indian Railways because about 80 percent of the tickets are booked through this service. Furthermore, senior citizens, disabled persons, students, sports persons can travel at discounted fares in Indian trains.