Facts & Records of Indian Railways

Top Speed Records

• Vande Bharat Express180 km/h
• Gatimaan Express160 km/h
• Bhopal Shatabdi Express150 km/h
• New Delhi–Mumbai Rajdhani Express130 km/h
• Duronto Express (Selected Services)Up to 130 km/h

Longest Route

4,189 km

Dibrugarh Kanyakumari Express, connecting Assam in the northeast to Tamil Nadu in the south - India's longest single train route.

One of the Oldest Running Train

Punjab Mail

The Punjab Mail is one of the most historic trains in the Indian railway network, with a legacy stretching back more than a century. According to Indian Railways' historical records, the train is believed to have made its maiden journey on 1 June 1912 from Bombay's Ballard Pier Mole station. Originally called the Punjab Limited, the train was designed primarily for British officials and upper-class passengers travelling between Bombay and Peshawar. It operated over the Great Indian Peninsula Railway network and passed through important cities including Itarsi, Agra, Delhi and Lahore before reaching Peshawar. In its early years, the train consisted of only six coaches—three passenger coaches and three coaches carrying postal goods and mail. The passenger coaches offered premium facilities for the era, including sleeping compartments, bathrooms, a restaurant car and dedicated luggage space. From 1914, the train began originating from Bombay Victoria Terminus, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Over time, it became popularly known as the Punjab Mail and developed into a regular daily passenger service. Following the Partition of India, its route was shortened and changed. Today, the Punjab Mail operates as Train No. 12137/12138 between Mumbai CSMT and Firozpur Cantt, continuing a railway tradition that began more than a century ago. The train has undergone enormous changes during its lifetime—from colonial-era coaches and steam locomotives to modern electric traction and LHB coaches—but its continued operation makes it a remarkable living link to the early history of long-distance rail travel in India.

Amazing Rail Facts

• India's first passenger train ran on 16 April 1853 from Bombay to Thane with 14 coaches and about 400 passengers.
• The first steam locomotive built in India was produced at the Ajmer Workshop in 1895 and was numbered F-734.
• Indian Broad Gauge measures 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in), making it wider than the 1,435 mm standard gauge commonly used around the world.
• The famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs on tracks just 610 mm, or 2 feet, wide.
• The historic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway uses six zigzag reverses and three loops to climb through mountainous terrain.
• The Nilgiri Mountain Railway climbs from about 326 metres to 2,203 metres above sea level during its journey into the Nilgiri Hills.
• Three operational Indian mountain railways form one UNESCO World Heritage Site: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka–Shimla Railway.
• India is home to the world’s highest railway arch bridge! The Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir stands 359 metres above the riverbed — about 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. The 1,315-metre-long bridge is one of Indian Railways’ most remarkable engineering achievements.