April 16, 2026 marks the 173rd anniversary of India’s first train journey. Ever since the maiden train journey, Indian Railways has been steadily adapting to changing needs, technologies, and expectations in over more than a century and a half of its existence.
What commenced as a modest steam-powered service covering a short distance has grown into a vast and complex transport system.
The Railways in India started with the first passenger train running between Bombay and Thane on 16th April, 1853. The sound of a steam engine changed the course of history of India during the 173 years.
A major milestone was the opening of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in 1881 connecting the plains of West Bengal at New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling. This demonstrated innovative engineering solutions for mountain transport and improved connectivity to hill regions.
Another substantial technological milestone was the development of indigenous manufacturing capability. In 1895, the first steam locomotive built in India was produced at the Ajmer Workshop of the Rajputana Malwa Railway. This represented an important step towards domestic railway engineering and maintenance capability.
Evolving from early steam locomotives, the Railways have now achieved 99.6 per cent electrification of the broad gauge network as of March 2026 and the network now operates about 25,000 trains daily, ensuring reliable connectivity across the country.
In 2025-26, the Railways carried a notable 741 crore passengers, reflecting the scale at which it serves the nation every day. During the same period, the total revenue reached approximately Rs 80,000 crore, while freight movement touched a record 1,670 million tonnes (MT). These achievements highlight how railways have evolved from a pioneering transport system into a vital engine of economic growth. It also serves as the backbone of the country’s logistics network along with providing safe, reliable, and accessible mobility to millions across India.
Safety initiatives have been further strengthened with the expansion of the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection System. This has been commissioned over 3,100 route kilometres, with implementation underway on an additional 24,400 kilometres. It aims to prevent train collisions and enhance operational safety.
Indian Railways has enhanced passenger travel through the introduction and expansion of the Vande Bharat Express. It is India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured semi-high-speed train. Launched in February 2019, the service represents a major step towards modern, comfortable, and technology-driven rail travel under the Make in India initiative.
Approximately 3.98 crore passengers travelled on the Vande Bharat Express network in FY 2025–26, demonstrating strong growth in passenger usage.Since its inception, the Vande Bharat Express has carried over 9.1 crore passengers through 1 lakh trips.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper service, launched in January 2026, carried 1.21 lakh passengers across 119 trips in its first three months of operation.
The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record capital outlay of Rs 2,78,000 crore for Indian Railways, the highest ever in the history of the sector. This highlights the strategic importance accorded to rail development. As part of this vision, the development of seven high-speed rail corridors has been announced as growth connectors. These corridors are intended to integrate major cities and regions, facilitate efficient movement of people, and support economic interaction across states. Proposed routes include Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Varanasi, and Hyderabad–Bengaluru, among others. Together, these planned corridors span nearly 4,000 kilometres.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor represents India’s first concrete step towards introducing high-speed rail systems in the country. Conceived as a dedicated high-speed passenger corridor, it covers a total length of approximately 508 kilometres. The corridor has been designed for high-speed operations at a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour.
These developments signal India’s transition into the era of high-speed rail, setting the foundation for faster and more efficient inter-city travel.