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Indian Railways (abbreviated IR) is the state-owned national railway network of India. It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting 4.2 billion people and over 300 million tons of freight on 100,000 kilometres of track each year. The Indian Railways is also the world's largest commercial or utility employer, having more than 1.6 million regular employees on its rolls.
History
India's maiden commercial train journey was between Bombay and Thana, a distance of 34 kilometers (21 miles) on April 16, 1853, though there were shunting and trial operations as well as a train hauling construction material prior to that. By 1880 the network had a route mileage of about 14,500 km (9000 miles), mostly radiating inward from the three major port cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By 1895, India had started building its own locomotives, and in 1896 sent engineers and locomotives to help build the Ugandan Railway.
The Indian Railways (IR) came into existence in the 1950s through the consolidation of state-owned railways that had been formed during the British Raj.
Rolling stock
Locomotives
Indian Railways uses a combination of diesel and electric locomotives. It uses steam locomotives on heritage routes.
Indian Railways use a specialised classification code for identifying its locomotives. The code is usually three or four alphabets, followed by a digit identifying the model (either assigned chronologically or encoding the horse-power rating of the locomotive). This could be followed by other codes for minor variations in the base model.
The three (or four) alphabets are, from left to right, the gauge of tracks on the locomotive operates, the type of power source or fuel for the locomotive and the kind of operation the locomotive can be used for. The gauge is identified as 'W' for broad gauge, 'Y' for metre gauge, 'Z' for the 0.762m narrow gauge and 'N' for the 610 mm narrow gauge. The power source code is 'D' for diesel, 'A' for AC traction, 'C' for DC traction and 'CA' for dual traction (AC/DC). The operation code is 'G' for freight-only operation, 'P' for passenger trains-only operation, 'M' for mixed operation (both passenger and freight) and 'S' for shunting operation. Thus, a WAP-4 is a broad-gauge, AC traction, passenger trains-only locomotive and is the fourth in the series chronologically. A WDM-3D is a broad-gauge, diesel-powered, mixed mode (suitable for both freight and passenger duties) and has a power rating of 3400 hp (2.5 MW).
Diesel: The most common diesel engine used is the WDM-2, which entered production in 1962. The 2600 hp (1.9 MW) locomotive was designed by Alco and manufactured by the Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. This locomotive is used as a standard workhorse. It is being replaced by more modern engines, ranging in power up to 4000 hp (3 MW).
Electric: The first electric locomotives were manufactured by Indian Railways in 1970. There is a wide variety of electric locomotives, ranging between 2800 and 6350 hp (2.1 and 4.7 MW). They also accommodate the different track voltages in use. Most electrified sections in the country use 25,000 volt AC, but railway lines around Mumbai use the older 1,500 volt DC system. Thus, Mumbai and surrounding areas are the only places where one can find AC/DC dual locomotives of the WCAM and WCAG series - elsewhere on Indian Railways, all electric locomotives are pure AC ones from the WAP, WAG and WAM series. Some specialized electric multiple units on the Western Railway also use dual-power systems. These dual rakes and locomotives switch power systems on the fly between Virar and Vaitarna using an unelectrified section of catenary called a dead zone. There are also some very rare battery-powered locomotives, primarily used for shunting and yard work.
Steam: The only steam engines still in service in India operate on two heritage lines (Darjeeling and Udhagamandalam) and on the tourist train Palace on Wheels.
Rakes
Coaches: The standard passenger rake consists of 18 coaches, but some trains can have 22 or even 24 coaches. Coaches are designed to accommodate anywhere from 18 to 72 passengers, though they may hold many more in practice. Special coaches such as luggage car or pantry car are usually included on most passenger trains. Most coaches in use are vestibuled, but some of these may be dummied for operational reasons on some trains.
Wagons: Freight trains use a large variety of wagons. The most popular type is the open BOXN type, used to haul bulk material to industries. The covered BCN series is used to ship general freight. Hopper cars, flatbed trailers and tanker cars are all used.
Electrical Multiple Units (EMU): Suburban trains that handle commuter traffic are usually 16 coaches, with an EMU at each end. The rakes in Mumbai run on direct current, while those elsewhere use alternating current. A standard coach is designed to accommodate 96 sitting passengers, but this can be easily doubled or tripled with standees and hangees during rush hour.
Production units
CLW: The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in Chittaranjan makes electric locomotives.
DLW: The Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi makes diesel locomotives.
ICF: The Integral Coach Factory in Perambur makes integral coaches . These have a monocoque construction, and the floor is an integral unit with the undercarriage.
RCF: The Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala also makes coaches for the Indian Railways.
RWF: The Rail Wheel Factory at Yelahanka manufactures wheels and axles.
Others: Some electric locomotives have been supplied by BHEL, and locomotive components are manufactured in several other plants around the country.
Track
The total length of track used by Indian Railways is about 108,706 km. Different gauges and traction systems are used. Track sections are rated for speeds ranging from 75 to 160 km/h.
Gauge
| Classification
| Gauge width
| Length of track
|
| Broad gauge
| 1676 mm
| 86,526 km
|
| Metre gauge
| 1000 mm
| 18,529 km
|
| Narrow gauge
| 762 mm, 610 mm
| 3,651 km
|
Traction
About 16,000 km of the total 63,028 km route length is electrified. Most places use 25,000 volt AC through overhead catenary delivery. A major exception is the entire Mumbai section, which uses 1,500 volt DC. This is currently undergoing change to the 25,000 volt system, and is scheduled for completion by 2008. Another exception is the Kolkata Metro, which uses 750 V DC delivered through a third rail.
Traction voltages need to be changed at two places in the vicinity of Mumbai. Central Railway trains approaching through Igatpuri switch from AC to DC using a neutral section that may be switched to either voltage while the locomotives are decoupled and swapped. Western Railway trains switch power on the fly, in a section between Virar (DC) and Vaitarna (AC), where the train continues on its own momentum for about 30 m through an unelectrified dead zone. All electric engines and EMUs operating in this section are necessarily AC/DC dual system type (classified "WCAM " by Indian Railways).
A voltage change is not required at Pune, because the section between Pune and Sholapur is not electrified. Locomotives are changed from diesel to electric however.
Maintenance
Indian Railways divides the country into four zones on the basis of range of track temperature. The greatest temperature variations occur in Rajasthan, where the difference may exceed 70 °C. Monitoring the track for thermal stress is therefore one of IR's more important activities.
Signaling systems
Indian Railways uses a wide variety of signaling systems, from semaphores to multiple aspect colour lights. Except for some high-traffic sections around large cities and junctions, the network does not use automatic block systems. Safety therefore depends completely on the skill and vigilance of the personnel operating the individual signals and the drivers themselves.
IR uses the following signal types:
- Colour lights: Many signals on IR are of this type. This is the default for any new signals that are commissioned. This may be of three sub-types, depending on the expected traffic that the line is designed for.
- Two aspect
- Three aspect
- Multiple aspect
- Semaphores: All older signals are of this type, where a mechanical arm indicates the line condition. Several subtypes are used:
- Two aspect lower quadrant
- Three aspect modified lower quadrant
- Multiple aspect upper quadrant
- Disc: These signals are located close to levers used to operate points. They are all two-aspect signals.
Geography
Paragraph on the geography of India (northern & eastern plains, coastal plains, Deccan plateau). Note mountains, passes, forests & rivers. Map of Indian Railway network. Explain the differing densities of track.
Stations
It is not easy to estimate the number of railway stations in India, as Indian Railways is routinely adding new stations, decommissioning old ones and temporarily closing down sections and stations for gauge conversion. Further, certain stations do not appear in timetables (an example is Hussain Sagar Junction station in Hyderabad) and certain others lie on the border between different zones and get counted multiple times - an example is Dadar in Mumbai, which even though is a single building, has different train schedules and codes on Western Railway (DDR) and Central Railway (DR). The best estimate available currently is between 7000 and 8000 stations.
A partial list of the railway stations is found in List of railways stations in India.
Administration
Organisational structure
Indian Railways is directly controlled by the Government of India, via the Ministry of Railways. The ministry is currently headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Union Minister for Railways and two Ministers of State for Railways, R. Velu and Naranbhai J. Rathwa . Reporting to them is the Railway Board, which has six members and a chairman (currently R. K. Singh ). For administrative purposes, the Indian Railways network is divided into 16 zones, each headed by a General Manager reporting to the Railway Board directly. Apart from these zones, a number of subsidiaries of the Railways too report to the Railway Board. Some of these subsidiaries are:
- Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation
- Konkan Railway Corporation
- Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation
- Railtel Corporation of India - Telecommunication Networks
- RITES Ltd. - Consulting Division of Indian Railways
- IRCON International Ltd. - Construction Division
Each zone is further divided into a number of divisions, under the control of Divisional Managers. The chief engineers of the Mechanical and Electrical divisions too report to the respective Divisional Manager and are in charge of track and catenary maintenance. Further down the heirarchy tree are the Station Masters who control individual stations and the train movement through the track territory under their stations' administration.
Zones
Operations
Passenger trains
Indian Railways run about 7000 passenger trains every day, transporting about 13 million people across the country. These trains fall under various categories, which dictate their stoppages along their route, the priority they enjoy on the network and fare structure. Each express train is identified by a four-digit number - the first digit being the zone that operates the train, the second the division within the zone that controls the train and is responsible for its regular maintenance and cleanliness, and the last two digits being the serial number. For superfast trains, the first digit is always '2', the second digit is the zone, the third is the division and only the last digit is the serial number within the division. Up and Down trains numbers are usually consecutive.
Most express trains also have a unique name attached to them - the names are usually exotic and are taken from landmarks (usually in or around one of the cities that the train connects, but not necessarily), famous people, rivers or just about anything. Some examples are:
- Charminar Express between Hyderabad and Chennai, from the monument Charminar in Hyderabad
- Amrita Express between Palghat Town and Thiruvananthapuram, named after Mata Amritanandamayi, a spiritual leader
- Ashram Express between Ahmedabad and New Delhi, named after Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram
- Gitanjali Express between Mumbai CST and Howrah, named after Rabindranath Tagore's famous work
11,000 trains are run every day, of which 7,000 are passenger trains.
13 million passengers are transported each day; 12 million of these are on unreserved tickets.
Typical schedules for engines, rakes, trains and drivers.
Hierachy of trains
- Rajdhani Expresses
- Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Expresses
- Superfast Expresses and Mails - these are trains that have an average speed greater than 55 km/h. Tickets for these trains have an additional superfast surcharge.
- Express or Mail - these are the most common kind of trains in India. They tend to have more stops than their superfast counterparts, but they stop only at relatively important intermediate stations.
- Passenger and Fast Passenger - these are slow trains that stop at every single station, and are the cheapest trains.
- Local (intracity) and suburban - many cities have their own dedicated suburban networks. Currently, suburban networks operate in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune. Hyderabad and Pune do not have dedicated suburban tracks - but share the tracks with long distance trains.
Accommodation classes
- 1AC - the highest priced accommodation. Very few trains have this class, and on Rajdhani Expresses, the fare could be at par with airline fares between the same two cities. The coaches are air conditioned with sleeping accommodation, carpeted and have privacy features like personal coupes. A broad gauge 1AC coach can carry 18 passengers.
- 2AC - Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, ample leg room, curtains and individual reading lamps. A broad gauge coach can carry 48 passengers.
- 3AC - Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, less leg room than the 2AC variety. Berths are three-high along the width of the coach. It carries 64 passengers in broad gauge.
- First Class - same as 1AC, without the air conditioning.
- Sleeper Class - the most common class. Regular sleeping coaches with berths stacked three-high. In broad gauge, it carries 72 passengers per coach. It is common to find up to 18 of these coaches in particularly popular trains.
- Executive Chair Car - Very plush sitting-only air conditioned coaches found in certain Shatabdi Expresses.
- AC Chair Car - sitting-only air conditioned coaches usually found in most inter-city day trains.
- Chair Car - the non-air conditioned variant of the above. Equivalent in popularity to the Sleeper Class, in inter-city daytime trains.
- Second Sitting - Unreserved sitting only accommodation. During holiday season, these coaches can be packed with last-minute travellers.
Ticketing
An Indian Railway Ticket from
Chennai to
Vijayawada by
Howrah Mail. Indian Rail fares are among the cheapest in the world.
Indian Railways' ticketing network is computerised to a large extend, even though sections exist with the older card ticketing system is still in use.
The ticket price usually includes the base fare which depends on the kind of train and the accommodation class in which one wishes to travel, a reservation charge if one needs reserved accommodation (a seat or for overnight journeys, a berth) and a super fast surcharge if the train is classified as a super fast.
Freight operations
- 70% of revenues are from freight
- Connects all major ports, mining areas, industrial areas etc.
- Freight-only tracks
- Container Rajdhani or Conraj
Economics and finance
Railway budget
The Railway Ministry publishes the Union Railway Budget every year sometime in February. This document serves as a balance sheet of the Railways' operations during the previous year and lists out plans for expansion for the current year.
Paragraph describing IR's financial performance over its history
Current problems
Technical
Accidents: While the safety of rail travel is of the highest quality in India, a number of high profile accidents mar this record. The main causes of accidents are old and outdated signalling equipment, bridges and tracks, passengers' and general public's disregard for safety guidelines, natural calamities and terrorism.
- Old signaling systems: The most serious safety problem in Indian Railways is the antiquated signaling systems used in some sections. Except for a few sections around large cities and junctions, automatic block signaling systems are not used. Manual error in signaling systems still causes accidents with heavy casualties. Modernization of signaling systems has not been mentioned in most railway budgets.
- Old tracks and bridges: Quite a few sections of Indian Railways' network were built more than 50 years ago. While the Railways has proactively taken up upgrade projects on the main lines, branch lines tend to be neglected when it comes to allocation of funds for upgrade. Hence it is common to find bridges and track sections where permanent speed restrictions are in place, often as low as a maximum speed of 10 km/h.
Mixed gauge: About 22,000 km of the total railway network is not broad gauge. The gauge conversion project has been termed Project Unigauge by Indian Railways. Gauge conversion is carried out by either laying down dual-gauge tracks, or by replacing with entirely new sleepers and tracks.
Single track sections: Large sections of track are currently single-track sections (eg Wadi-Guntakal ), causing bottlenecks and delays for traffic. Some of these sections are currently being expanded but the process is still slow.
Low track speed rating: Most of the track in the network is rated for very low speeds. Thus train speeds are restricted even though the rolling stock used can travel at higher speeds.
Communication: Communication between stations and signalmen is done through telephone. In some places, IR still uses twisted pair cables and elderly Strowger exchanges. This is currently being upgraded to optical fiber and microwave communications. The main impetus for this change came from the Department of Telecommunications , who no longer had the expertise to maintain a large network of heritage technology. Drivers and guards were equipped with VHF radio systems in 1999 to communicate with each other and with station masters.
Social/political
Litter: Trains, stations and railway tracks are all often littered with paper, plastic and food discarded by travelers. This problem is not restricted to IR, but affects the country as a whole. The toilets on IR trains are also of the direct-vent type, without any effluent storage tanks on board. This causes an accumulation of human waste on the tracks in places where the train stands still, such as in large stations.
Encroachment: Railway land is often encroached on by members of the public, especially in larger cities where the tracks may be lined with slums and hutments. There have been some attempts to evacuate the encroachers from the tracks and demolish the hutments, with mixed success.
Trespassing: In some places, pedestrians or cyclists may cut across the tracks to achieve the shortest path, causing a safety hazard to the railways. Reasons given are that suitable footbridges over the tracks are non-existent or inconveniently placed. Most railway land in India is not fenced or restricted in any way, allowing free trespass. In rural areas, cattle and other animals may stray onto the tracks, posing a much more serious safety hazard to fast-moving trains.
Pricing: India in general is a price-sensitive market. Railway ticket prices are particularly affected by this factor. Since IR is controlled by the Central Government, increasing ticket prices often translates to widespread discontent and political damage in elections. This therefore imposes a strong constraint on the pace at which IR can expand or modernize itself.
More trains: In order to win popularity from a given region, the Government sometimes asks IR to introduce direct trains from there to other destinations. The reasoning behind this is that the convenience experienced by travelers in not having to switch trains translates into satisfaction with the Government. Less commonly, a train may also be named after a person important to the region for the same reasons. In both cases, more trains are introduced into the network, causing gauge-conversion and other projects to proceed more slowly, and also reducing the budget for other activities.
Bureaucracy: The administration of Indian Railways is notable for its bureaucracy. The creation of seven new administration zones in particular has been criticized by some watchers ([2], [3]). A notable example is that of Hajipur in Bihar, a very minor station which was made the headquarters of the East Central Railway division. The Government denied any connection between this and the fact that Hajipur happened to be the Parliamentary constituency of Ram Vilas Paswan, who was the Railway Minister at the time that the proposal was made. Another controversial issue during the same period was the headquarters of South Western Railway being located at Hubli in northern Karnataka instead of Bangalore in southern Karnataka, following political agitation in Hubli.
Notable trains, stations and journeys
Statistics
- World's 5th largest rail network, with route length of 63,518 km (2002).
- World's second largest rail network under a single management; largest rail network in Asia.
- 6,853 stations
- 300 storage and maintenance yards.
- 2,300 warehouses.
- 700 repair shops.
- 7,600 locomotives.
- 37,800 passenger coaches .
- 222,000 freight wagons .
- 1.54 million workforce.
External links
