Published By: Nirtika Pandita

Important facts about Indian Railways

More than hundred years old, it is a heritage in itself

One of the oldest modes of transport in India connecting one state to another is the railways. The Indian Railways has for over a hundred years served the nation. Be it passenger trains or cargo, the railways have been instrumental in bringing states and people closer by reducing the distance. Here are some mindblowing facts about the Indian Railways.

The Indian railways are 169-years-old and the first existence of Indian railways came into being in 1853. And the first passenger train operated between Mumbai’s Bori Bandar to Thane, covering 34 kilometers.

During the British era, the first railway workshop was established at Jamalpur, near Munger, Bihar much before independence in 1862.

Believe it or not, Indian Railways is the world’s fourth-largest rail network spread over 68 thousand kilometers. As of now, it has over 45 thousand kilometers of the electrified rail network as well. Even more significant fact about Indian railways is that it is operated by a single government.

Unlike other transports of India, the Railways have to their credit four UNESCO recognised world heritage sites, namely Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, ChhatrapatiShivaji Terminus, Mumbai, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka Shimla Railway.

The longest railway station is the Hubli Junction Railway Station in Karnataka, which is 1,505 meters in length. Earlier the longest railway station title was given to the Gorakhpur Railway Station - 1,366 meters in length.

The Indian Railways have to its name five royal trains, namely the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Palace on Wheels, The Golden Chariot, The Maharajas’ Express, and The Deccan Odyssey. However, the oldest luxury train is the Palaces on Wheels.

There are also the longest and shortest rain rides. The longest train ride is from Kanyakumari to Dibrugarh through Vivek Express covering 4189 kilometers and involving 56 stops covering the distance in 82 hours and 30 minutes. And the shortest train ride is from Nagpur to Ajni, covering three kilometers.

The Mathura Junction railway station is a crucial route in Indian railways considering the huge rail connectivity to different cities. There are seven railway lines that emerge at this railway station, which is the maximum railway route to emerge from a single location.

Indian railway holds the title of constructing the world’s highest rail arch bridge with steel and concrete. The bridge is constructed at 359 meters above the river bed level. The bridge connects the Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.