Indian Railways

India is the first Asian country to operate railways. It used to have the longest railway milege in Asia. India has the fourth largest railway network in the world (after the United States, China and Russia). By the end of March 2019, India's rail network has a total length of 123,542 kilometers (76,765 miles).

Nowadays, Indian rail network links almost every city in the country. Trains is definetely a convenient and cost-effective way of getting around India. Unlike the stereotype of people clinging on outside moving suburban trains, Indian trains on long-distance routes are actually safe and civilised. Air-conditioned coaches are clean and comfortable.

Indian Train Routes

India has an extensive and busy rail network. Trains play an important role in both long-distance transportation and commuting. With the development of Indian railways, more and more travelers choose to use train service to get around the country.

Popular Train Routes in India

Trains from Delhi to Bangalore

• Delhi to Mumbai: trains run freqently between these two cities, with the travel time of 16 hours. Shatabdi Express is recommended on this route. Ticket fare is Rs.4,445 for an air-conditioned sleeper berth.
• Delhi to Kolkata: it takes around 17 hours to travel between these two cities by train. Rajdhani Express, a quality sleeper train is recommended for this route. An air-conditioned sleeper ticket costs Rs.5,000.
• Deilhi to Agra: there are Shatabdi Express and ordinary express running between Delhi and Agra, taking around 2 hours. An First AC ticket takes Rs.940 on Shatabdi Express costs Rs.940. An First AC ticket on an ordinary express costs Rs.750.
• Delhi to Bangalore: express trains take around 28 hours from Delhi to Bangalore. Ticket fare is Rs.6,000 in First AC; Rs.2,500 in Third AC.
• Delhi to Chennai: traisn spend 25 to 30 hours from Delhi to Chennai. Travel times varies according to the train types.

Types of Indian Railways

• Tejas Expresses are fast all-air-conditioned expresses. They are the fastest trains and one of the best trains in India. The maximun running speed is 200 km/h (125 mph). They run on several routes from Delhi and Mumbai. There are AC Chair class and AC Executive Chair class on Tejas Expresses.
• Shatabdi Expresses are high-quality fast air-conditioned trains running at up to 150 km/h (93 mph) on several routes including Delhi to Kolkata and Delhi to Agra. They usually run during daytime. AC Chair class and AC Executive Chair class are available on Shatabd Expresses.
• Vande Bharat Expresses are one of the fastest trains in Inidia, with the top running speed of 200 km/h (125 mph). AC Chair class and AC Executive chair class are available on this type of train. At the time I write this they run on two routes, Delhi-Katra and Delhi-Varanasi. They are also one of the best trains and well-equipped with complete faciities.
• Duronto Expresses are air-conditioned non-stop express trains with complete facilities. They mainly operate on long-distance routes including Delhi to Kolkata, Mumbai-Kolkata and Delhi to Lucknow, etc. 1AC, 2AC and 3AC sleepers are available on Duronto Expresses.
• Rajdhani Expresses are air-conditioned extra-fast trains that only stop at major cities. They run at maximum running speed of 130 to 140 km/h (80 to 87 mph). Rajdhani Expresses run on several routes from Delhi and Mumbai.
• Garib Rath Expresses: Garib Rath is a fast fully air-conditioned train. The best part about this train is that its tickets are cheaper than other air-conditioned express trains. Chair coaches and sleeper coaches are available on Garib Rath Expresses.
• The slowest type of train is classified Local Trains. They basically stop at every station along the route. Their running speeds are at 40 to 80 km/h (25 to 50 mph). Most Local Trains only provide unreserved seats. It is not recommended to take local trains for longer-distance travel, only for local journeys.

Booking Indian Railways Tickets

Booking an Indian train ticket might be easier than you think. Reservations for most trains open 120 days before the departure date. Since tickets on long-distance trains, especially air-conditioned chair tickets and sleeper tickets sold out very quickly, we recommended you book tickets as soon as your travel plan confirmed.

You can book Indian train tickets online or at the local railway station. Purchasing tickets at the local train station will have the risk of tickets being sold out. Booking tickets online in advance is highly recommended. Train Spread makes train ticket online booking available to you to save you time, hassle, and money. All inquiries will be handled by our experienced and professional travel advisors to ensure you get the best service.

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