Rail transport in India
| Railway Transport In India | |
|---|---|
|
Clockwise from top left: Vande Bharat trainset; Namo Bharat Rapid Rail; Superfast express pulled by WDP-3A diesel locomotive; Metro train; Suburban train; WAP-7 electric locomotive | |
| Operation | |
| National railway | Indian Railways |
| System length | |
| Total |
|
| Double track | 38,415 km (23,870 mi) (2023) |
| Electrified | 64,080 km (39,820 mi) |
| Track gauge | |
| 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge | 65,977 km (40,996 mi) |
| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | 245 km (152 mi) |
| 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge | 1,345 km (836 mi) |
| 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) and 610 mm (2 ft) | 1,262 km (784 mi) |
| Features | |
| Longest tunnel | Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, 11.215 km (6.969 mi) |
| No. bridges | 156,417 (2023) |
| Longest bridge | Bogibeel Bridge, 4.94 km (3.07 mi) |
| No. stations |
|
| Highest elevation | 2,257 m (7,405 ft) |
| at | Ghum |
| Lowest elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| at | Burra Bazar and Honnavar |
Rail transport in India consists of primarily of passenger and freight shipments along an integrated rail network. Indian Railways (IR), a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India, operates India's national railway system. It is the primary owner and operator of rail operations throughout the country, including suburban rail in major metros. Economic studies indicate positive effects of the Indian railway network on the economy of the country.
The majority of the metro urban rail networks are operated by independent bodies constituted for the respective operations. Privately owned rails exist in few places, mostly used to connect freight to the integrated rail network. Inter-city rail services are operated primarily by Indian Railways, though efforts have been made to introduce privately operated trains as recently as 2022.
The national rail network comprised total route length of 68,584 km (42,616 mi), with more than 132,310 km (82,210 mi) of track and 8,000+ stations and is the fourth-largest in the world. It is one of the busiest networks in the world, transporting more than 11 billion passengers and 1.416 billion tonnes of freight annually. As of August 2024, more than 64,080 km (39,820 mi) of all the routes have been electrified with 25 KV AC electric traction. The rolling stock consisted of 318,196 freight wagons, 84,863 passenger coaches, 14,781 locomotives and other multiple units owned by Indian Railways apart from rail-sets operated by metro rail corporations.