Interesting facts about the Indian Railways

Indian Railways is one of the most iconic transport systems. Beyond moving millions of people and goods, it’s full of remarkable history, records, and engineering feats. These six facts will surprise even frequent travellers. (unsplash)

172 Year Old Heritage: Indian Railways began its journey on 16 April 1853, with the first passenger train running from Mumbai’s Bori Bander to Thane, a 34 kilometre trip pulled by three locomotives named Sahib, Sultan, and Sindh. (wikimedia commons)

It has it's own Mascot: Indian Railways’ official mascot is Bholu, an elephant dressed as a railway guard. Created in 2002 for the 150th anniversary celebration and adopted formally in 2003, Bholu represents responsibility, sincerity, and cheer. (Wikimedia commons)

Fourth Largest Railways Network: With over 68,000 kilometres of track, Indian Railways is the fourth largest rail network globally and the largest one operated by a single government. Over 45,000 kilometres of its tracks are electrified, boosting efficiency. (unsplash)

Home to World's Longest Platform: The world’s longest railway platform is at Gorakhpur Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh, stretching 1,366 metres. A longer platform (1,505 m) at Hubli Junction is currently under construction. (Wikimedia commons)

India's Longest Rail Tunnel: Pir Panjal Tunnel, part of the Jammu–Baramulla line in the Himalayas, stretches 11.25 kilometres, making it the longest railway tunnel in India and an impressive engineering achievement. (wikimedia commons)

It Owns Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Indian Railways is responsible for four UNESCO-recognized heritage railways, namely, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka Shimla Railway. (unsplash)