AN INTRODUCTION

India is a land of diverse culture and Indian Railways play a key role in not only meeting the transport needs of the country, but also in binding together dispersed areas and promoting national integration. Truly, Indian Railways have emerged as the sinews of the Indian economy and have reached out to bring together the great Indian family. Indian Railways are the largest rail networks in Asia and the world's second largest under one management.

Railways traverse through the length and breadth of the country covering 63,140 route kms as on 31.3.2002, comprising broad gauge (45,099 kms), meter gauge (14,776 kms) and narrow gauge (3,265 kms). As the principal constituent of the nation's transport system, Indian Railways own a fleet of 2,16,717 wagons (units), 39,236 coaches and 7,739 number of locomotives and manage to run 14,444 trains daily, including about 8,702 passenger trains. They carry more than a million tonne of freight traffic and about 14 million passengers covering 6,856 number of stations daily.

Harnessing the potential of these vast and widespread assets to meet the growing traffic needs of developing economy is no easy task and makes Indian Railways a complex cybernetic system. Over the years, Railways have built up an elaborate and well established manual information system to help them monitoring their moving assets. Supported by a dedicated voice communications network, it collects and transmits information from the remotest corners of the country to control centres, at the highest level. The size and complexity of their operations, growing traffic and changing technologies, placed inevitably a heavy burden on this manual information system. Need for its modernization was therefore felt for sometime.

Indian Railways have been the prime movers to the nation. Railways being the more energy efficient mode of transport are ideally suited for movement of bulk commodities and for long distance travel. As compared to road transport, the railways have a number of intrinsic advantages. Railways are five to six times more energy efficient, four times more efficient in land use and significantly superior from the standpoints or environment impact and safety. Indian Railways, therefore, rightly occupy pride of place in the growth and development of the nation.

CLASSES AND ACCOMMODATION

The railways system recognizes the following types of classes of travel and accommodation -
CLASSES -

• First class Air-conditioned (AC) (Code: 1A)
• The Executive class in Shatabdi type trains is also treated as 1 AC
• AC 2-tier sleeper (Code: 2A)
• First class (Code: FC)
• AC 3 Tier (Code: 3A)
• AC chair Car (Code: CC)
• Sleeper Class (Code: SL)
• Second Sitting (Code: 2S)

ACCOMMODATION TYPES -

• Berths
• Seats
• Chair car

The following class-accommodation combinations are created for by the railways system -

• I AC - Berths for night and seats for day. Both berths and seats are considered identical with respect to fare and accommodations.
• AC 2-tier sleeper - Berths for night and seats for day are considered identical with respect to fare. The extent of accommodation for night journey and day journey (that is, sitting and sleeping accommodation) generally remains same.
• I Class - Berths and seats are considered identical with respect to fare but during the day, number of seats are greater than the number of berths during the night.
• AC 3-Tier
• AC chair car
• Sleeper class berths
• II Class sitting (Day coaches)

SUPER FAST TRAINS

RAJDHANI EXPRESS - India's super fast, fully air conditioned, deluxe trains give you the unique opportunity of experiencing Indian Railways at its best. Afternoon snacks and tea are offered after the trains begin their journey. Indian and continental cuisine, soft music and the train's rhythmic movement provides a comfortable journey. The trains link New Delhi (the capital or Rajdhani) to India's major cities.

SHATABDI EXPRESS - are the super fast, Inter-city trains that link major cities and offer facilities for quick and comfortable travel. While you relax, the Shatabdi hospitality treats you to meals and snacks. Before you are through, your destination has arrived.

HILL RAILWAYS

There is nothing to match the experience of chugging up the hills. If you have some time to spare, then take a slow toy train up to the hill resorts of Shimla, Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Darjeeling or Matheran.

Embark on an out-of-the-ordinary journey up to the hills -

SHIMLA - The toy train journey from Kalka to Shimla is entrancing with 107 tunnels and lofty arched bridges. The dazzling view and the stop at the picturesque stations along the way add to the experience.

Access to Shimla: Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, the "toy train" covers 96 km. of track in six hours.

OOTY (UDHAGAMANDALAM) - At a maximum speed of 33km per hour, this "toy train" treks across plains, plantation and forest clad hills. The 16 tunnels and tall girder bridges on the way, along with the breathtaking view, make this toy train journey to Ooty, something not to be missed.

Access to Ooty: Ooty is connected by a narrow gauge line from Mettupalayam, which serves as the railhead for mainline trains.

DARJEELING - The most famous of the little trains, is the one linking the town of New Jalpaiguri in the plains to the lovely hill station of Darjeeling. The 86km Darjeeling line allows the traveller an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR) is recognised as "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.

Access to Darjeeling: New Jalpaiguri, the starting point of the hill train to Darjeeling, has direct connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other places in India.

MATHERAN - The 77-year-old line, connecting Neral to Matheran, is the main way to reach the tiny hill resort, close to Mumbai. As the little train wheezes up into the clear mountain air one can view the scenic vista of hills and plains below.

Access to Matheran: The toy train to Matheran commences from Neral (on Mumbai - Pune line). The journey up to Matheran takes about one-and-half hours. The toy train runs between sunrise and sunset.

SHIVALIK DELUXE EXPRESS - introduced on the lines of Shatabdi Express this train chugging its way up the hills has only one stop - Barog. The journey time is 4hrs 45min. The amenity fittings match the modern times - wall to wall carpets, wide glass windows, reversible cushioned chairs, improved toilet facilities, cabins for couples, tables for meals, tube lights, music system, micro phones for communication with the guard to name just a few. With a sitting capacity of 120 it connects the Howrah-Kalka mail. Breakfast is served in Up and dinner in Down direction.

SHIVALIK PALACE - For an exciting and charming journey for the elite class tourist between Kalka and Shimla, this Tourist Coach has free on board catering with an exclusive range of kitchenware. Special features include - decorative lights, musical cordless bell, music system, variety of indoor games, magazines and books, most ultra modern amenity fittings in bathroom, artificial decorative plants, dining table with beautiful cushioned chairs, folding beds etc. Shivalik Palace is meant normally for a party of 6 persons. Two complimentary retiring rooms at Shimla is also provided for the tourists travelling on this train for one day.

SHIVALIK QUEEN - Also on the Kalka - Shimla line this Tourist Coach has been launched for honeymooners. Each coupe offers exclusive privacy and big windows for panoramic view of hills. The coupe has wall-to-wall carpet and the windows are elegantly curtained. All meals are provided on the train. There is an alarm bell for communication with driver while microphone keeps you in touch with the guard. Free newspaper and magazines are provided at Kalka and Shimla.

RULES FOR LUGGAGE

Each passenger is allowed a free allowance up to which he can carry luggage with him in the compartment, free of cost. The free allowance varies for different classes of travel. Children aged 5 and below 12 years are allowed half of the free allowance subject to the maximum of 50kg. You are also permitted a marginal allowance. There is a maximum ceiling on the luggage, which can be carried inside the compartment for each class. These are indicated in the table below -
If your luggage marginally exceeds the free allowance, you will be charged at the normal luggage rates applicable to your class of travel. Make sure to book your excess luggage in the luggage office, pay the prescribed charges and get your tickets endorsed by cross-referencing the luggage ticket details, before commencing your journey. Free allowance is not admissible for articles such as scooters, cycles etc