A Guide To Indian Railways: How To Easily Explore the Country by Train
25.07.2023 - 10:38
/ matadornetwork.com
One of the most exciting things you can do in India is to take the train – which is saying a lot, considering the large country offers everything from Bengal tiger safaris to trekking in the Himalayas to jungle-covered tropical islands. Rail lines crisscross the nation, carry millions of travelers every day. They’re an intrinsic part of the cultural flavor of India.
To ride an Indian Railways train is to allow yourself to be swept up in the hurly-burly of everyday life and join the masses in movement. It’s hard to describe the smell of fried snacks on the railway platform, the call of the chai seller moving down the aisle, and the hubbub of excitement as the train begins to roll out of the station without experiencing it for yourself. Indian Railways is essentially a microcosm of life in India, affording the opportunity to see the countryside glide by while you meet and interact with locals.
Indian Railways really is the lifeblood of India. The system is the fourth-largest in the world by route length, and the first by passenger count: approximately 22 million people take the train in India every day, which amounts to eight billion rides per year. Indian Railways is also one of the world’s largest employers. All trains in India are run and operated by the company, save for a few private, high-end tourists trains
The dizzying array of train types, classes, status codes, and routes can make navigating the Indian Railways system seem overwhelming. But with some basic knowledge and a little advanced planning, it’s easy enough to ride the rails with relative ease.
Photo: Yuliia Ozeran/Shutterstock
All trains in India are not created equal. India has many different names for different types of trains, which could indicate any number of things: the geographic route, the level of comfort, the speed, or what city it leaves from. It can be pretty confusing.
So to make it easier, try and narrow your search to these four:
These are the best passenger trains in India, aside from several expensive luxury trains.
Indian Railways has different classes of service, much like an airline. And you probably don’t want to end up in the most budget seats. Just like there are many train types available, there are also many classes. For comfort on sleeper trains, choose 1AC (first class with air conditioning) or 2AC (second class with air conditioning). On trains with seats, rather than berths, both the executive chair car (EC) and chair car (CC) are comfortable; the EC seats are arranged with two seats on each side of the aisle, while CC seats have three.
To accommodate the millions of people trying to book trains every day, Indian Railways has developed a complex system of status codes. Once you buy your ticket, your status code can