What are some amazing facts about the Indian Railways?

 Indian Railways, the world’s fourth largest in terms of network, is a lifeline for the 13 million people who use it every day.

Mammoth service

It runs 11,000 trains every day on tracks that spread over 60,000 km in length.

Big boss

It employs close to 1.54 million people, making it the seventh-largest employer in the world, according to Forbes.

Long haul, short haul

A trip on the Vivek Express is like an odyssey. India’s longest-route train runs between Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari, a distance of 4,286 km with 56 stops and a running time of 82.30 hours. A train between Nagpur and Ajni runs for just 3 km.

Non-stop, full stop

The Trivandrum-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express covers the 528-km distance between Vadodara and Kota in 6.5 hours without any stops. It is the longest ‘non-stop train’ in India. The Howrah-Amritsar Express has the most number of stops--115.

Hare & tortoise

The Gatiman Express has become the fastest train in India with top speed of 160km/h, running between New Delhi and Agra. The Nilgiri Express with an average speed of 10 kmph is India’s slowest train.

Least punctual train

The Guwahati-Trivandrum Express is usually delayed by 10-12 hours per trip on its scheduled journey time of 65 hours and 5 minutes.

Spell that

Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta on the Arakkonam-Renigunta section near Chennai, is the station with the longest name. Ib, near Jharsuguda in Odisha have the shortest names.

One station, two states

The Navapur railway station straddles 2 states: one half of it is in Maharashtra and the other half in Gujarat.

Two stations, one place

Srirampur and Belapur are two different stations in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, but on opposite sides of the same track.

Disaster

On June 6, 1981, a passenger train plunged into the Bagmati River in Bihar, killing around 800 people. The accident is among the deadliest-ever rail accidents in India.

Image courtesy- google

What are some amazing facts about the Indian Railways?

 If I'll tell you that Railway books a seat every year for a person who has left this world several years ago, you will definitely think that I am kidding, but wait..... This is fact.

New Jalpaiguri(Popularly known as NJP which is its station code) of Northeast frontier Railway every year witness a booking in the name of a person who sacrificed his life in supreme service to the nation.

Yes...... You guessed it correct (if you have ever been to Sikkim or particularly Nathu la ) I am talking about Baba Harbhajan Singh, Every year on 11 September, a jeep departs with his personal belongings to the nearest railway station, New Jalpaiguri, from where it is then sent by train to the village of Kuka, in the Kapurthala district of the Indian state of Punjab. While empty berths on any train of the Indian Railways are invariably allocated to any waitlisted passenger or on a first-come-first-served basis by the coach attendants, a special reservation for the Baba is made. Every year a seat is left empty for the journey to his hometown and soldiers chaperone the Baba to his home.

Isn't it surprising?

Hold on some more surprising things are there: -

At the age of 22 when youths are busy about their romantic life and family, He was defending Indian boundaries at inhospitable high altitude terrain of Eastern Himalaya, and gave supreme sacrifice to the nation.

He is revered as the "Hero of Nathula" by soldiers of the Indian army, who built a shrine in his honour. He was accorded the status of saint by believers who refer to him as the "Baba" (saintly father).

Some Indian soldiers believe that in the event of a war between India and China, Baba would warn the Indian soldiers of an impending attack at least three days in advance.

Interestingly Chineese troops also believes about the spirit of "BABA" and During flag meetings between the two nations at Nathu La, the Chinese set a chair aside to honor him.

He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra medal for his bravery and martyrdom on 26 January 1969. (The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of blazing gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air)

What are some amazing facts about the Indian Railways?

 The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, and it's full of amazing facts that kids will love! Let's take a ride through some exciting railway facts:

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1. 🇮🇳 The Largest Rail Network in Asia

• Indian Railways is the 4th largest railway network in the world, with over 68,000 km of tracks connecting cities, towns, and villages.

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2. 🚄 The Longest Train Route

• The longest train route in India is the Vivek Express, which runs from Dibrugarh (Assam) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
• It covers 4,233 km in about 80 hours — that's over 3 days of travel!

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3. 🐢 The Slowest Train

• The Mettupalayam Ooty Nilgiri Passenger is the slowest train in India, moving at just 10 km/h as it climbs the scenic Nilgiri Hills.

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4. 🚀 The Fastest Train

• The Vande Bharat Express (also known as Train 18) is India's fastest train, reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h.

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5. 🏔️ Highest Railway Station

• The Ghum Railway Station in West Bengal is the highest station in India, sitting at an altitude of 2,258 meters (7,407 feet) above sea level.

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6. 🌍 UNESCO Heritage Trains

• The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway, and Nilgiri Mountain Railway are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their historical importance.

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7. 🚂 The Longest Train Name

• The train with the longest name is the Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh — quite a mouthful!

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8. 🌉 The Longest Railway Bridge

• The Bogibeel Bridge in Assam is the longest rail-road bridge in India, stretching 4.94 km across the Brahmaputra River.

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9. 🧳 Millions of Passengers Daily

• Indian Railways carries over 23 million passengers every day — that’s like moving the entire population of Australia in one go!

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10. 🚋 The Busiest Railway Station

• Howrah Junction in West Bengal is the busiest station in India, with hundreds of trains passing through every day.

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11. 🏆 World’s Longest Railway Platform

• The Gorakhpur Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh holds the record for the world's longest platform, measuring 1.36 km.

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12. 🚨 A Train Without a Station

• The Trivandrum-Nizamuddin Express makes a unique stop at a signal post called Bharatpur (Rajasthan), where no official station exists!

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13. 🥣 Train with a Kitchen on Board

• The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train with a full kitchen serving delicious Indian and international dishes.

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14. 🔋 Electric Trains for a Greener Future

• Indian Railways is rapidly adopting electric trains to reduce pollution and promote eco-friendly travel.

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15. 👷 Largest Employer in India

• With over 1.2 million employees, Indian Railways is one of the largest employers in the world.

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16. 🎨 Color-Coded Trains

• Indian trains use different colors to indicate their purpose: Blue – Express trains Green – Garib Rath (low-cost AC trains) Red – Premium trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi

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17. 🚦 First Indian Train

• The first train in India ran on April 16, 1853, between Mumbai and Thane — a journey of 34 km with 14 carriages and 400 passengers.

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18. 🛤️ The Curviest Track

• The Metupalayam-Ooty track is famous for its sharp curves and thrilling bends through hilly terrain.

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19. 🦚 India's Royal Train

• The Palace on Wheels is a luxurious train offering a royal travel experience — it's like a moving five-star hotel!

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20. 🌎 Railways Are Getting Smarter

• Indian Railways now offers Wi-Fi services at major stations, online booking apps, and improved digital services for a better passenger experience.

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🚂 Indian Railways is more than just trains — it’s a journey through history, culture, and innovation. So, next time you board a train, remember — every station has a story to tell!