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Bhartiya Railways is the fourth-largest rail network in the world and is spread over an area of about 1.2 lakh Km. India’s first railway line was laid between Roorkee and Piran Collier during British rule. This railway line was located in the North-Western Provinces of India and was established during 1837-1838. This railway line, which was built in India’s North-Western province, which is now known as Uttar Pradesh, was used by the East India Company for relief work in the region and was constructed at a cost of ₹ 1 crore. In addition, the British government had constructed a canal from the Ganges for drought-prone districts.
A railway system in British India was first conceived in 1832 when rail travel in the United Kingdom was still in its infancy, but the East India Company had resolved to build an extensive rail network in India, as the cost far outweighed the long-term benefits. In 1844, the Governor-General of India, Lord Hardinge, constructed a railway system for private enterprises.
By 1845, two companies were formed in British India: the “East Indian Railway Company” and the “The Great Indian Peninsula Railway.” At present, there are three types of services offered by the Indian Railways to the public: express train, mail express, and passenger trains.
Development of railways in India
Over the years, various schemes have been implemented to further improve the services of the Indian Railways. The most important of these was to upgrade the railway from metre gauge train to broad gauge. The Research Design and Standards Organisation was founded in 1957 to address this matter and also to bring about new technological advancements in the country’s railway network. Based in Lucknow, this is the world’s largest railway research organisation, whose task involves design approval coach interior, signalling systems, layout, track design, etc.
History of Indian Railways
The history of the Indian Railways dates back to the early years of British rule in India. Here’s a brief look at how the railways have developed since then.
1853-1860
The plans for a rail network in India were first conceived in 1850. The first trains in India began operations in 1853. The system was owned and operated by the East India Company. The system was plagued by various political problems related to land, resources, labour, etc. Various lines were set up, such as Calcutta – Delhi, Allahabad – Jabalpur. By 1860, the railway network was split into eight divisions, the prominent ones being Eastern India Railway, Madras Railway, and Great India Peninsula Company.
1870-1900
This period saw the railway network being extended to cover over 14,000 Km, mainly covering the regions of Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. By 1900, various facilities such as electric lights and toilets were introduced in the trains. The Indian Railways also built a toy train in 1854 and commenced operations in 1881. This first of its kind mountain train was known as Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and is still operational.
1901-1925
The Indian Railways first registered a profit during this time, under the reign of Viceroy Lord Curzon. The East Indian Railway and the GIPR were nationalised in 1923, making for more streamlined and centralised management of the network. However, the development and operations of the rail network came to a standstill during World War 1.
1925-1946
This was a period that witnessed a significant slump in terms of revenue for the Indian Railways. It was around this time that the first electric train was introduced in the country. During this phase, wagons were given more importance than rail.
1947- 1980
This was an important phase of rebuilding for the Indian Railways shortly after Indian independence. Several new railway routes were built during this time. The historic train from India to Pakistan was first flagged off in 1951. This was also the time when electrification and modernization of the railways were carried out. In 1982, the first inquiry counter was established in the Mumbai suburban station to point the trains.
1980-2000
The country’s first planned rapid transit system, the Kolkata Metro, was established in 1984. Various luxury trains too were started by the Indian Railways. The Palace on Wheels was one such luxury train that commenced operations in 1982. It is managed by the Government of Rajasthan and the Tourism Department of India. The reservation and ticketing system of Indian Railways was introduced in 1995.
2000-present day
During this period, over 120,000 Km of railway tracks were laid. The online ticketing system in India was also introduced post-2000. The Indian Railways has since introduced various special features such as Wi-Fi, Customer Information System, ergogenic design and green technologies on most of its trains. Apart from this, technical facilities in the unreserved category, GPS based passenger information system, high horsepower electric locomotives, private catering services facilities, and sliding doors have also been added.
Conclusion
Before independence, only 42 trains operated in the country. Today, there are around 13,169 passenger trains that connect the length and breadth of the country. Indian Railways now has over 120,000 Km of tracks across India. Every day more than 23 million people are served by the Indian Railways. The railways in the country are making rapid strides, with 15 rapid transit systems now operational, and various new technological advancements aimed at improving travelling experience and efficiency are being introduced.
