Railways and metros

The British brought railways to India in 1853. Their aim was to carry raw materials like cotton and tea to the ports for shipping to Britain, and to spread British goods across India to sell. Railways also let them use India's resources and move troops quickly, tightening their control over the country.

So the railway was built as a tool of colonial rule, not a gift. But it outlived that purpose. As the network grew, trade grew, big markets developed, and new towns sprang up near stations. Railways became a lifeline for moving people and goods.

Today Indian Railways carries over 20 million passengers every day, and is one of the cheapest train services in the world. Cargo trains carry coal, grain, textiles and electronics, using 75–90 per cent less energy than road transport.

Trains once ran on coal and diesel, which caused heavy pollution. India is now aiming for 100 per cent electric trains, which is better for the environment. In 2024 the share of electrified railway was: UK 97%, Germany 75%, France 61%, China 55%, India 38%.

Indian Railways is also the largest employer, with about 1.21 million employees in 2024 — engineers, ticket collectors, service staff — and it creates many more indirect jobs in catering, vending and taxis.

Indian Railways is the fourth-largest railway system in the world, with about 150,000 km of track (after the USA, Russia and China). The trains have changed too: the F-734 steam engine (1895), the WDM-1 diesel (1957), the WAM-4 electric (1970), and the Vande Bharat (2019).

Metro trains now run in 23 Indian cities, over more than 1,000 km. The network is growing, and India will soon have the world's third-largest metro network, after China and the USA.

Metros make daily travel fast and reliable and reduce road traffic. Running underground or on raised tracks, out of the way of cars and buses, they save time; and running on electricity (the Delhi Metro even uses some solar power), they cause less pollution.