How to Get Free or Discounted Railway Tickets for Students and Eligible Travelers

Unlock free or concessional railway tickets for students, senior citizens, and others! Discover eligibility, application processes, and tips to save on train travel. Perfect for budget travelers seeking Indian Railways discounts.

भारतीय रेल किराये में विभिन्न प्रकार की छूट/रियायत की जानकारी यहाँ से प्राप्त करें-

Indian Railway Ticket Concession for Senior Citizens, Students, Patients & others

Key Topics

• Free Railway Ticket for Students and others

• IRCTC Indian Railways Ticket Concession: Rules, Discounted Fares

• Concession Rules to Indian Railway Passenger

• IRCTC (Indian Railways) Ticket Concession Up to 100%

• Here is a complete list of Railway Concessions

• Railways now change the rules for availing the Senior Citizens

• Senior Citizens Concession on Train Tickets

• Indian Railways announces 40% fare concession for Transgender Passengers

• Railway Concession for Physically Handicapped Passengers

• Free Railway Ticket for Patients

• Free Railway Ticket for Disabled

• Free Railway Ticket for Youth Groups

• Free Railway Ticket for Cancer Patient

• Free Railway Ticket for Senior Citizens

• Rail Fare Concession to Patients

• Free Rail Journey to Senior Citizens

• Rail Ticket Concessions for Sports Personnel

• Train Fare Concession, Rail Reservation

• Train Reservation

• Train journey

How to Get Free or Discounted Railway Tickets for Students and Eligible Travelers

Railway travel is a convenient and budget-friendly way to explore new destinations, especially for students and other eligible travelers. Fortunately, many railway systems worldwide offer free or discounted tickets to make travel more accessible. In this article, we’ll explore practical tips and strategies to help you secure free or discounted railway tickets, saving you money while you travel.

Why Railway Discounts Matter for Students and Eligible Travelers

For students, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other eligible groups, discounted railway tickets can make a significant difference. These discounts reduce travel costs, making it easier to visit family, attend educational events, or explore new places. Understanding how to access these benefits can unlock affordable travel opportunities.

1. Check for Student-Specific Rail Passes and Discounts

Many countries offer student-specific rail passes or discounts that significantly reduce ticket prices. Here’s how to take advantage:

• International Student Identity Card (ISIC): The ISIC card is recognized globally and often provides discounts on train tickets in countries like Europe, India, and Australia. For example, in Europe, an ISIC card can get you up to 20-30% off on certain rail services.

• National Railway Student Discounts: In countries like India, Indian Railways offers up to 50% off for students on specific train categories. In the UK, a 16-25 Railcard provides a third off most fares. Check your country’s railway website for student-specific offers.

• Eurail/Interrail for Students: If you’re traveling in Europe, Eurail (for non-European residents) and Interrail (for European residents) passes offer discounted rates for those under 27. These passes allow unlimited travel across multiple countries for a set period.

Action Tip: Visit your national railway website or platforms like Eurail.com to check eligibility and apply for student discounts or passes. Always carry your student ID or ISIC card when booking and traveling.

2. Explore Discounts for Other Eligible Groups

Beyond students, many railway systems provide concessions for specific groups, such as:

 

• Senior Citizens: In the US, Amtrak offers a 10% discount for passengers aged 65 and older. In India, senior citizens get up to 40-50% off on Indian Railways.

• People with Disabilities: Many railways, like those in the UK, offer a Disabled Persons Railcard for a third off fares. In Europe, some operators provide free or discounted companion tickets for accessibility needs.

• Children and Youth: Children under a certain age (often 12 or 16) may travel free or at reduced rates when accompanied by an adult. For example, Deutsche Bahn in Germany offers free travel for kids under 15 with a parent.

 

Action Tip: Research eligibility criteria on your railway’s official website or contact their customer service to confirm available discounts. Carry relevant documentation, like age proof or disability certificates, when booking.

3. Book Early for Discounted Fares

Many railway operators release tickets months in advance at lower prices. Early booking can secure significant savings, especially on high-demand routes.

 

• Advance Tickets: In the UK, booking 12 weeks in advance can save up to 60% on train fares. Similarly, Amtrak and European railways like SNCF (France) offer cheaper fares for early bookings.

• Promotional Sales: Keep an eye on seasonal promotions or flash sales. For instance, Indian Railways occasionally announces special student fare reductions during holidays.

 

Action Tip: Subscribe to railway newsletters or follow their official social media accounts for alerts on early-bird deals and promotions.

4. Leverage Rail Passes for Frequent Travelers

If you travel often, rail passes can be a cost-effective option. These passes allow unlimited or flexible travel within a specific period or region.

 

• Regional Passes: In Japan, the Japan Rail Pass is a great deal for tourists, including students, covering unlimited travel on JR lines. In Europe, regional passes like the Swiss Travel Pass offer discounts for youth.

• City-Specific Passes: Some cities, like London, offer travelcards that include rail and other public transport at discounted rates for students.

 

Action Tip: Compare the cost of a rail pass versus individual tickets based on your itinerary. Websites like Seat61.com provide detailed guides on choosing the right pass.

5. Use Third-Party Platforms and Apps for Deals

Several apps and websites aggregate railway ticket deals, offering additional discounts or cashback:

 

• Popular Platforms: Apps like Trainline, Omio, and Rail Europe often provide exclusive deals or user-friendly interfaces to compare ticket prices across multiple operators.

• Student Travel Agencies: Organizations like STA Travel or StudentUniverse sometimes partner with railways to offer exclusive student discounts.

 

Action Tip: Download trusted apps and check for promo codes before booking. Cross-check prices with the official railway website to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

6. Take Advantage of Group Travel Discounts

If you’re traveling with friends or family, group discounts can lower costs. Many railways offer reduced fares for groups of a certain size.

 

• Group Save in the UK: For groups of 3-9 people, some UK operators offer up to a third off fares.

• Family Tickets: In countries like Germany and France, family tickets allow adults and children to travel together at reduced rates.

 

Action Tip: Check group travel policies on the railway’s website and book together to maximize savings.

7. Look for Free Travel Schemes

Some countries and regions offer completely free rail travel for specific groups:

 

• Free Travel in Europe: The EU’s DiscoverEU program provides free Interrail passes to 18-year-olds to explore Europe. Applications typically open twice a year.

• Regional Free Travel: Countries like Luxembourg offer free public transport, including trains, to all residents, with special provisions for students.

 

Action Tip: Follow programs like Discover EU on social media or check government websites for free travel initiatives in your region.

8. Combine Discounts with Loyalty Programs

Many railway operators have loyalty programs that allow you to earn points for future discounts.

 

• Amtrak Guest Rewards: In the US, students and others can earn points on Amtrak purchases, redeemable for free tickets.

• SNCF Carte Avantage Jeune: In France, this card offers additional savings for those under 27 on top of regular discounts.

 

Action Tip: Sign up for loyalty programs if you travel frequently, and check if points can be combined with existing student or eligibility discounts.

9. Avoid Peak Times for Cheaper Tickets

Traveling during off-peak hours or seasons can lead to cheaper fares. For example:

 

• Off-Peak Tickets: In the UK, off-peak tickets are cheaper and often available for students with a Railcard.
• Low-Season Travel: Traveling outside of holidays or summer months can result in lower fares across Europe and Asia.

 

Action Tip: Use fare comparison tools on railway websites to identify off-peak times and book accordingly.

10. Stay Informed About Local Concessions

Local and regional transport authorities may offer unique concessions not widely advertised. For example:

 

• City-Specific Discounts: Some cities provide student transport passes that include suburban rail services.

• Educational Institutions: Universities often partner with local railways to offer subsidized tickets for students.

 

Action Tip: Check with your school or local transport authority for unadvertised deals or partnerships.

How to Get Free or Discounted Railway Tickets for Students and Eligible Travelers in India

Fare Concessions

Indian Railways offer concessions on ticket prices to different categories, the quantum of which ranges from 10 per cent to 100 per cent. The reductions in fares are available for senior citizens, disabled passengers, students, war widows, patients, among others.

Indian Railways providing many facilities to all its passengers, in the same manner it provides Rail Ticket Concession to various types of passengers like Students, Sick Passengers, Press reporter, Players, War Gallantry awardees and many more others.

A list is given below for getting benefits of the said concessions along with Certificates required for concession -

Much other information is also available in short term for Examination purpose for students as well as unemployed personnel to get success in any competition exam.

Latest Indian Railways Travelling Concession Rules

Indian Railways frequently updates its policies, including Travelling Concession Rules. To ensure you're accessing the most accurate and current information, visit the official Indian Railways website. Stay informed about eligibility, discounts, and application processes for concessions like senior citizen, student, or differently-abled passenger benefits.

 

Why Check the Official Website?

• Get verified and up-to-date concession rules.
• Avoid outdated or incorrect information from unofficial sources.
• Learn about new schemes or changes in real-time.

 

How to Find the Rules?

1.     Visit the official Indian Railways website (www.indianrail.gov.in).

2.     Navigate to the "Rules & Policies" or "Passenger Services" section.

3.     Look for "Travelling Concession Rules" or related documents.

 

Popular Concessions Include:

• Senior Citizen Concession
• Differently-Abled Persons Concession
• Student Concession
• Medical Professionals and Press Correspondents Concession

 

Stay updated and plan your journey with confidence by referring to the official source!

Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Concession is Admissible to the following Categories of Persons (As on 1.4.07)

S.No	CATEGORY OF PERSONS	PERCENTAGE ELEMENT OF CONCESSION
I	Disabled passengers
1	Orthopedically Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons along with an escort (cannot travel without escort) traveling for any purpose	-- 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car -- 50% in 1AC and 2 AC -- 25% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains -- 50% in MST & QST -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
2	Blind persons traveling alone or with an escort for any purpose
3	Mentally retarded persons traveling with an escort for any purpose
4	Deaf & Dumb persons (both afflictions together in the same person) traveling alone or with an escort for any purpose.	-- 50% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class -- 50% in MST & QST -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
II	Patients
5	Cancer patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up.	-- 75% in 2nd class, 1st class, AC chair car -- 100% in SL & 3AC -- 50% in 1AC & 2AC -- One escort eligible for same element of concession(except in SL and 3AC where escort gets 75%)
6	Thalassemia patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up	-- 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car -- 50% in 1AC & 2AC -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
7	Heart patients traveling alone or with an escort for heart surgery
8	Kidney patients traveling alone or with an escort for kidney transplant Operation/Dialysis
9	Hemophilia Patients - severe & moderate form of disease - traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical checkup.	-- 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class, 3AC, AC chair car -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
10	T.B./Lupas Vagaries patients traveling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodic check-up	-- 75% in 2nd class, SL, 1st class -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
11	Non-infectious Leprosy patients - for treatment/periodic checkup.
12	AIDS patients - for treatment/check-up at nominated ART Centres	-- 50% in 2nd class -- 50% in MST & QST -- One escort is also eligible for same element of concession
13	Ostomy patients - traveling for any purpose.
14	Patients suffering from Aplastic Anemia travelling for treatment/periodical check-up to recognized hospitals by Mail/Express Trains.	-- 50% in basic fares of  SL, AC-2-tier, 3AC, AC chair car classes.
15	Patients suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia travelling for treatment/periodical check-up to recognized hospitals by Mail/Express Trains.	-- 50% in basic fares of  SL, AC-2-tier, 3AC, AC chair car classes.
III	Senior Citizens
16	Men - 60 years and above Women - 58 years and above - traveling for any purpose.	-- 40% in all classes -- 50% in all classes -- Also in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Duronto trains
IV	Awardees
17	Recipients of Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Indian Police Award for Meritorious services, after the age of 60 - traveling for any purpose.	-- 50% for men -- 60% for women -- In all classes and Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains also
18	Shram Awardees - Industrial Workers awarded the Prime Minister's Shram Award for Productivity and Innovation - traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
19	National Awardee Teachers - honored with National Award by the President of India for exemplary service in the field of education - traveling for any purpose.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
20	Either of parents accompanying the Child Recipients of National Bravery Award - traveling for any purpose.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
V	War Widows
21	War Widows - traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
22	Widows of Policemen and Paramilitary personnel killed in action against Terrorists and Extremists - traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
23	Widows of I.P.K.F. Personnel killed in action in Sri Lanka - traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
24	Widows of defence personnel killed in action against terrorists & extremists - traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
25	Widows of Martyrs of Operation Vijay in Kargil in 1999 traveling for any purpose.	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class
VI	Students
26	Students going to hometown and educational tours : - -- General Category - -- SC/ST Category - -- Girls upto Graduation and boys upto 12th standard (including students of Madrasa) between home & school (MST)	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class -- 50% in MST and QST -- 75% in 2nd and SL class -- 75% in MST and QST -- Free second class MST
27	Students of Govt. schools in rural areas - for study tour - once a year.	-- 75% in 2nd class
28	Entrance exam - Girls of Govt. schools in rural areas for national level for medical, engineering, etc. entrance exam	-- 75% in 2nd class
29	Concession to students appearing in main written examination conducted by UPSC & Central Staff Selection Commissions.	-- 50% in 2nd class
30	Foreign students studying in India - traveling to attend camps/seminars organised by Govt. of India and also visit to places of historical & other importance during vacations.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
31	Research scholar’s upto the age of 35 years - for journeys in connection with research work.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
32	Students and non-students participating in Work Camps	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
33	Cadets and Marine Engineers apprentices undergoing Navigational/ Engineering training for Mercantile Marine - for travel between home and training ship.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
VII	Youths
34	Youths attending National Integration Camps of :- (a) National Youth Project (b) Manav Uththan Sewa Sami ti	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class -- 40% in 2nd and SL class<
35	Unemployed youths : (i) To attend interview for job in Public Sector Organisations (i.e. Central/ State Govt offices, Statutory Bodies, Municipal Corporation, Govt Under-taking, University or Public Sector Body.) (ii) To attend interviews for jobs in Central & State Govt.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class -- 100% in 2nd class -- 50% in SL class
36	Bharat Scouts & Guides - for scouting duty.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
VIII	Kisans
37	Kisans and Industrial Labourers - for visit to agricultural/industrial exhibitions.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
38	Kisans traveling by Govt. sponsored Special trains.	-- 33% in 2nd and SL class
39	Kisans & Milk Producers - visit to National level Institutes for learning/raining better farming/ dairy	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
40	Delegates for attending Annual Conferences of: (i) Bharat Krishak Samaj and (ii) Sarvodaya Samaj, Wardha.	-- 50% in 2nd and SL class
IX	Artists and Sportspersons
41	Artistes - for performance.	-- 75% in 2nd class, SL class -- 50% in 1st & AC chair car, 3AC, 2AC -- 50% in of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi AC Chair car, 3AC & 2AC trains
42	Film Technicians - Travelling for film production related work	-- 75% in SL class -- 50% in 1st & AC chair car, 3AC, 2AC -- Including Rajdhani/Shatabdi
43	Sportsmen participating in : (i) All India and State tournaments (ii) National tournaments	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class -- 50% in 1st class -- 75% in 2nd, SL class -- 50% in 1st class
44	Persons taking part in Mountaineering Expeditions organised by IMF	-- 75% in 2nd and SL class -- 50% in 1st class
45	Press Correspondents accredited to Headquarters of Central & State Governments/Union Territories/ Districts - for press work. Spouse/Companion/Dependent children (upto 18 years)	-- 50% in all classes and in all-inclusive fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains. -- 50% concession twice every financial year.
X	Medical Professionals
46	Doctors Allopathic - traveling for any purpose.	-- 10% in all classes and Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains
47	Nurses & Midwives - for leave and duty.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
XI	Others (Conference, Camps, Tours etc)
48	Delegates for attending Annual Conferences certain All India bodies of social/cultural/educational importance.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
49	Bharat Sewa Dal, Bangalore - for attending camps/meetings/rallies/ trekking programmes.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
50	Volunteers of Service Civil International - for social service.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
51	Teachers of Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools - for educational tours.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
52	Members of St. John Ambulance Brigade and Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps, Calcutta - for ambulance camps/ competitions.	-- 25% in 2nd and SL class
XII	Izzat MST
53	Izzat MST to persons with monthly income not exceeding 1500/-, working in unorganized sectors - for journeys upto maximum 100 Kms.	-- Rs. 25/-

* All concessions applicable in Basic Mail/Express fares, unless otherwise stated.

 Click here to download Concession list in PDF free

Other Useful information about Indian Railways is available here -

About Indian Railways

Indian Railways were first introduced to India in the year 1853 from Mumbai to Thane. In 1951 the systems were Nationalized as one unit, the Indian Railways, becoming one of the largest networks in the world. IR operates both long distance and suburban rail systems on a multi-gauge network of broad, metre and narrow gauges. It also owns locomotive and coach production facilities at several places in India and are assigned codes identifying their gauge, kind of power and type of operation. Its operations cover twenty nine states and seven union territories and also provide limited international services to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The history of rail transport in India began in the mid-nineteenth century. The core of the pressure for building Railways in India came from London. In 1848, there was not a single kilometer of railway line in India. The country's first railway, built by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR), opened in 1853, between Bombay and Thane. A British engineer, Robert Maitland Brereton, was responsible for the expansion of the railways from 1857 on wards. The Allahabad-Jabalpur branch line of the East Indian Railway had been opened in June 1867. Brereton was responsible for linking this with the GIPR, resulting in a combined network of 6,400 km (4,000 mi). Hence it became possible to travel directly from Bombay to Calcutta. This route was officially opened on 7 March 1870 and it was part of the inspiration for French writer Jules Verne's book Around the World in Eighty Days. At the opening ceremony, the Viceroy Lord Mayo concluded that "it was thought desirable that, if possible, at the earliest possible moment, the whole country should be covered with a network of lines in a uniform system".

By 1875, about £95 million were invested by British companies in India. Guaranteed railways. By 1880 the network had a route mileage of about 14,500 km (9,000 mi), mostly radiating inward from the 3 major port cities of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. By 1895, India had started building its own locomotives, and in 1896, sent engineers and locomotives to help build the Uganda Railways.

In 1900, the GIPR became a government owned company. The network spread to the modern day states of Ahom Kingdom, Rajputhana and Madras Presidency and soon various autonomous kingdoms began to have their own rail systems. In 1905, an early Railway Board was constituted, but the powers were formally vested under Lord Curzon. It served under the Department of Commerce and Industry and had a government railway official serving as chairman, and a railway manager from England and an agent of one of the company railways as the other two members. For the first time in its history, the Railways began to make a profit.

In 1907 almost all the rail companies were taken over by the government. The following year, the first electric locomotive made its appearance. With the arrival of World War I, the railways were used to meet the needs of the British outside India. With the end of the war, the railways were in a state of disrepair and collapse. Large scale corruption by British officials involved in the running of these railways companies was rampant. Profits were never reinvested in the development of British colonial India.

In 1920, with the network having expanded to 61,220 km (38,040 mi), a need for central management was mooted by Sir William Acworth. Based on the East India Railway Committee chaired by Acworth, the government took over the management of the Railways and detached the finances of the Railways from other governmental revenues.

The period between 1920 and 1929, was a period of economic boom; there were 41,000 mi (66,000 km) of railway lines serving the country; the railways represented a capital value of some 687 million sterling; and they carried over 620 million passengers and approximately 90 million tons of goods each year. Following the Great Depression, the railways suffered economically for the next eight years. The Second World War severely crippled the railways. Starting 1939, about 40% of the rolling stock including locomotives and coaches was taken to the Middle East, the railways workshops were converted to ammunitions workshops and many railway tracks were dismantled to help the Allies in the war. By 1946, all rail systems had been taken over by the government.

Indian Railway Zones

Indian Railways is divided into 17 zones, which are further sub-divided into divisions. The number of zones in Indian Railways increased from six to eight in 1951, nine in 1952 and seventeen in 2003. Each zonal railway is made up of a certain number of divisions, each having a divisional headquarters. There are a total of sixty-eight divisions.


Each zone is headed by a general manager, who reports directly to the Railway Board. The zones are further divided into divisions, under the control of divisional railway managers (DRM). The divisional officers, of engineering, mechanical, electrical, signal and telecommunication, accounts, personnel, operating, commercial, security and safety branches, report to the respective Divisional Manager and are in charge of operation and maintenance of assets. Further down the hierarchy tree are the station masters, who control individual stations and train movements through the track territory under their stations' administration.

Name	Abbr.	Date Established	Route kms	Headquarters	Divisions
Southern	SR	14-04- 1951	5098	Chennai	Chennai,  Tiruchirappalli,  Madurai and Salem, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram
Central	CR	05-11- 1951	3905	Mumbai	Mumbai CST,  Bhusawal, Pune, Solapur  and Nagpur
Western	WR	05-11- 1951	6182	Mumbai	Mumbai Central, Ratlam, Ahmedabad,  Rajkot,  Bhavnagar, Indore,  Surendranagar  and Vadodara
Eastern	ER	14-04-1952	2414	Kolkata	Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and  Malda Town
Northern	NR	14-04-1952	6968	Delhi	Delhi, Ambala,  Firozpur,  Lucknow, Moradabad and  Udhampur
North Eastern	NER	14-04-1952	3667	Gorakhpur	Izzatnagar,  Lucknow and  Varanasi
South Eastern	SER	1955	2631	Kolkata	Adra,  Chakradharpur,  Kharagpur and Ranchi
Northeast Frontier	NFR	15-01-1958	3907	Guwahati	Alipurduar, Katiar, Rangia,  Lumding and Tinsukia
South Central	SCR	02-10- 1966	5951	Secunderabad	Vijayawada,  Secunderabad, Guntakal, Guntur,  Hyderabad and Nanded
Kolkata Metro[16]	KMRCL	24-10-1984	25	HRBC House, St. George's gate roadKolkata	NA
East Central	ECR	01-10-2002	3628	Hajipur	Danapur,  Dhanbad,  Mughalsarai,  Samastipur & Sonpur
North Western	NWR	01-10-2002	5459	Jaipur	Jaipur, Ajmer,  Bikaner and  Jodhpur
East Coast	ECoR	01-04-2003	2677	Bhubaneswar	Khurda Road, Sambalpur  and Visakhapatnam
North Central	NCR	01-04-2003	3151	Allahabad	Allahabad, Agra and Jhansi
South East Central	SECR	01-04-2003	2447	Bilaspur	Bilaspur, Raipur and Nagpur
South Western	SWR	01-04-2003	3177	Hubli	Hubli, Bangalore and Mysore
West Central	WCR	01-04-2003	2965	Jabalpur	Jabalpur, Bhopal and Kota

Indian Railways Technical Details

Track and gauge - Indian railways uses 4 types of gauges:

1. Broad gauge:              1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in).

2. Standard gauge:         1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in). 

3. Meter gauge:               1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in). 

4. 2 Narrow gauges:        762 mm (2 ft 6 in) and 610 mm (2 ft).

Track sections are rated for speeds ranging from 75 to 160 km/h (47 to 99 mph).

The total length of track used by Indian Railways is about 115,000 km (71,000 mi) while the total route length of the network is 65,000 km (40,000 mi). About 24,891 km (15,467 mi) or 38% of the route-kilometre was electrified, as of 31 March 2014.

Broad gauge is the predominant gauge used by Indian Railways. 

Indian broad gauge—1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)—is the most widely used gauge in India with 105,000 km (65,000 mi) of track length (91% of entire track length of all the gauges) and 56,000 km (35,000 mi) of route-kilometre (86% of entire route-kilometre of all the gauges).

In some regions with less traffic, the metre gauge (1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)) is common, although the Unigauge project is in progress to convert all tracks to broad gauge.

The metre gauge has about 8,000 km (5,000 mi) of track length (7% of entire track length of all the gauges) and 7,000 km (4,300 mi) of route-kilometre (10% of entire route-kilometre of all the gauges).

The Narrow gauges are present on a few routes, lying in hilly terrains and in some erstwhile private railways (on cost considerations), which are usually difficult to convert to broad gauge.

Narrow gauges have 2,000 route- kilometre. The Kalka-Shimla Railway, the Kangra Valley Railway and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway are three notable hill lines that use narrow gauge, but the Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a metre gauge track. These 4 rail lines will not be converted under the Unigauge project.

Map of Indian Railways network with population density

The share of broad gauge in the total route-kilometre has been steadily rising, increasing from 47% (25,258 route-km) in 1951 to 86% in 2012 whereas the share of metre gauge has declined from 45% (24,185 route-km) to 10% in the same period and the share of narrow gauges has decreased from 8% to 3%. About 24,891 route-km of Indian railways is electrified.

Sleepers (ties) are made up of prestressed concrete, or steel or cast iron posts, though teak sleepers are still in use on a few older lines. The pressurized concrete sleeper is in wide use today. Metal sleepers were extensively used before the advent of concrete sleepers. Indian Railways divides the country into four zones on the basis of the range of track temperature. The greatest temperature variations occur in Rajasthan.

Research and Development

Indian Railways has a full-fledged organisation known as Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), located at Lucknow for all research, designs and standardization tasks.

In August 2013, Indian Railways entered into a partnership with Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) to develop technology to tap solar energy for lighting and air-conditioning in the coaches. This would significantly reduce the fossil fuel dependency for Indian Railways.

Recently it developed and tested the Improved Automated Fire Alarm System in Rajdhani Express Trains. It is intended that the system be applied to AC coaches of all regular trains.

Indian Railways Links to Adjacent Countries

Existing rail links are given below -

1. Nepal – Break-of-gauge – Gauge conversion under uni-gauge project.

2. Pakistan – same Broad Gauge. Thar Express to Karachi and the more famous Samjhauta Express international train from Lahore, Pakistan to Amritsar (Attari).

3. Bangladesh – Same Broad Gauge. The Maitri Express between Dhaka and Kolkata started in April 2008 using the Gede-Darsana route, in addition to a Freight Train service from Singhabad and Petrapole in India to Rohanpur and Benapole in Bangladesh. A second passenger link between Agartala, India and Akhaura Upazila, Bangladesh was approved by the Government of Bangladesh and India in September 2011.

Indian Railways under Construction / Proposed Links

1. Bhutan – railways under construction – Same gauge.

2. Myanmar – Manipur to Myanmar (under construction).

3. Vietnam – On 9 April 2010, Former Union Minister of India, Shashi Tharoor announced that the central government is considering a rail link from Manipur to Vietnam via Myanmar.

4. Thailand – Possible if Burma Railway is rebuilt.

Indian Railways types of Passenger Services

Trains are classified by their average speed. A faster train has fewer stops ("halts") than a slower one and usually caters to long-distance travel.

Rank	Train	Description
1	Duronto Express:	These are the non-stop (except for technical halts) point to point rail services introduced for the first time in 2009. They connect the metros and major state capitals of India and are faster than Rajdhani Express. They provide first AC, two-tier AC and three-tier AC accommodation. Some of them provide Sleeper Class accommodation.
2	Rajdhani Express:	These are air-conditioned trains linking major cities to New Delhi. They have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at an average speed of 130 km/h (82 mph). They have only a few stops. In the Railway budget of 2014, it was proposed that the speed of Rajdhani express, and Shatabdi Expresses would be increased up to 200 km/h.
3	AC Express:	These are fully air-conditioned trains linking major cities in the country. They have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130 km/h (82 mph). They have only a few stops.
4	Double Decker Express:	These are fully air-conditioned two floor express trains. They have high priority and are considered among fast trains in India.
5	Shatabdi Express:	The Shatabdi trains are air-conditioned intercity trains for travel during daytime. They have seats and executive class seats. Some of them have 3-tier AC berths. They are the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 130–160 km/h. India Railway is planning to introduce wi-fi faciltiy for New Delhi - Kalka Shatabdi Express.
6	Yuva Express:	These trains were started along with Duronto Express trains to provide air conditioned travel to youth of the country. Sixty percent of the seats of these trains were reserved for passengers between 18 – 45 years of age. These trains did not enjoy much success. Today these trains only operate on the Delhi - Howrah and Delhi - Mumbai routes.
7	Garib Rath:	Air-conditioned no-frills trains with seats and 3-tier Economy AC berths. The maximum speed is 130 km/h.
8	Jan Shatabdi Express:	Jan Shatabdi Express are a more affordable variety of the Shatabdi Express, which have both AC and non-AC classes. The maximum speed is 130 km/h.
9	Sampark Kranti Express:	These are series of trains which provide super-fast Express like connectivity to national capital Delhi. These trains have higher priority than Super Express / Mail.
10	Intercity Superfast Express/Mail:	These are trains travel at a speed greater than 100–120 km/h (60-75 mph). Tickets for these trains have an additional superfast surcharge.
11	Kavi Guru Express:	These trains were introduced in honor of Ravindra Nath Tagore. Currently four pair of these trains operates in Indian Railways network.
12	Vivek Express:	These trains were started to commemorate 150th birth   Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand in 2013. Currently four pair of Vivek Express run in country.
13	Rajya Rani Express:	These trains are started to connect state capital to important cities in that state.
14	Express:	These are the most common kind of trains in India. They have more stops than their super-fast counterparts, but they stop only at relatively important intermediate stations.
15	Passenger and Fast Passenger:	These are slow trains that stop at most or every station along the route and are the cheapest trains. The trains generally have unreserved seating accommodation but some night trains have sleeper and 3-tier AC compartments. These also travel about 40-80 kmph.
16	Suburban trains:	These trains operate in the urban areasof Mumbai,  Delhi,  Kolkata,  Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune and between  Kanpur  and Lucknow, usually stop at all stations and have unreserved seating accommodation.
17	Metro:	These trains are designed for city transport. Indian Railway constructed Kolkata Metro for the city of Kolkata.
18	Tourist Trains:	Indian Railways also operate luxurious tourist trains like Palace on Wheels, Maharaja Express, The Golden Chariot, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels etc. Fairy Queen has also gained tourist attraction because it is the oldest steam engine in operation hauling luxurious train from Delhi to Alwar.

Indian Railways Accommodation Classes

The following table lists the classes in operation. A train may not have all these classes.

1. Class 1A:    First class AC:  This is the most expensive class, where the fares are almost at par with air fare. There are eight cabins (including two coupes) in the full AC First Class coach and three cabins (including one coupe) in the half AC First Class coach. The coach has an attendant to help the passengers. Bedding is included with the fare in IR. This air conditioned coach is present only on popular routes and can carry 18 passengers (full coach) or 10 passengers (half coach). The sleeper berths are extremely wide and spacious. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation and have privacy features like personal coupes. This class is available on broad gauge and meter gauge trains.

2. Class 2A:   AC-Two tier: These air-conditioned coaches have sleeping berths across eight bays. Berths are usually arranged in two tiers in bays of six, four across the width of the coach and two berths long ways on the other side of the corridor, with curtains along the gangway or corridor. Bedding is included with the fare. A broad gauge coach can carry 48 passengers (full coach) or 20 passengers (half coach). This class is available on broad gauge and metre gauge trains.


3. Class FC:     First class: Same as 1AC but without air conditioning. No bedding is available in this class. The berths are wide and spacious. There is a coach attendant to help the passengers. This class has been phased out on most of the trains and is rare to find. However narrow gauge trains to hill stations have this class.

4. Class 3A:    AC three tier:  Air conditioned coaches with 64 sleeping berths. Berths are usually arranged as in 2AC but with three tiers across the width and two long ways as before giving eight bays of eight. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights or curtained off gangways. Bedding is included with fare. It carries 64 passengers in broad gauge. This class is available only on broad gauge.

5. Class 3E:    AC 3 tier (Economy): Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, present in Garib Rath Trains. Berths are usually arranged as in 3AC but with three tiers across the width and three long ways. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights or curtained off gangways. Bedding is not included with fare.


6. Class CC:    AC Chair Car:  An air-conditioned seater coach with a total of five seats in a row used for day travel between cities.

7. Class EC:    Executive Class Chair Car: An air-conditioned coach with large spacious seats and legroom. It has a total of four seats in a row used for day travel between cities. This class of travel is only available on Shatabdi Express trains.

8. Class SL:    Sleeper Class: The sleeper class is the most common coach on IR, and usually ten or more coaches could be attached. These are regular sleeping coaches with three berths vertically stacked. In broad gauge, it carries 72 passengers per coach.


9. Class 2S:    Seater Class: Same as AC Chair car, but with bench style seats and without the air-conditioning. These may be reserved in advance or may be unreserved.

10. Class UR:    Unreserved: The cheapest accommodation. The seats are usually made up of pressed wood in older coaches but cushioned seats are found in new coaches. These coaches are usually over-crowded and a seat is not guaranteed. Tickets are issued in advance for a minimum journey of more than 24 hours. Tickets issued are valid on any train on the same route if boarded within 24 hours of buying the ticket.

Indian Railway Web Sites

Zonal Railways	Production Unit	Corporate Sites	Others
Central Railway(CR)	Chittaranjan Loco Works (CLW)	Centre for Railway Information Systems	Indian Railways Portal
East Central Railway (ECR)	Diesel Locomotive Works(DLW)	Container Corporation of India Limited	Railway Board
East Coast Railway (East Coast)	Diesel-Loco Modernization Works (DMW)	IRCON International Limited	Northern Railway Carriage and wagon Workshop Lucknow
Eastern Railway(ER)	Integral Coach Factory (ICF)	Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited	Indian Railway E-Procurement
North Central Railway (NCR)	Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala (RCF)	Indian Railway Finance Corporation	National Train Enquiry System
North Eastern Railway (NER)	Rail Wheel Factory (RWF)	Indian Railway Welfare Organisation	Institute of Rail Transport
North Western Railway (NWR)	Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE)	Konkan Railway Corporation's	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR)	Rail Coach Factory Raebareli (RCFRBL)	RITES Limited	Indian Railway Central Organization for Telecom
Northern Railway (NR)	Rail Wheel Plant Bela (RWP)	Rail Vikas Nigam Limited	National Rail Museum Sites
South Central Railway (SCR)	Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC)	RAILTEL Corporation of India Limited	Indian Railway Traffic Service Association(IRTS)
South East Central Railway (SECR)	Educational & Research		Palace on Wheels
South Eastern Railway (SER)	Indian Railways Institute of Electrical Engineering (IRIEEN)		Railway Board Claims website
South Western Railway(SWR)	Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering(IRIMEE)		Rail Tourism
Southern Railway(SR)	Indian Railway Institute Of Civil Engineering(IRICEN)		Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
West Central Railway(WCR)	Research Design and Standards Organization(RDSO)		Central Organisation For Modernisation of Workshops(COFMOW)
Western Railway(WR)	Indian Railway Institute Of Transport Management(IRITM)
Metro Railway,Kolkata(MTP)	Indian Railway Institute Of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications(IRISET)
	National Academy of Indian Railways(NAIR)

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Final Thoughts

Securing free or discounted railway tickets as a student or eligible traveler is easier than you think. By leveraging student IDs, rail passes, early bookings, and loyalty programs, you can significantly cut travel costs. Always research your options, carry necessary documentation, and plan ahead to maximize savings.

Start exploring your railway’s website or trusted platforms like Trainline and Eurail today to uncover the best deals for your next journey. Happy travels!

Call to Action: Have you used any of these tips to save on train tickets? Share your experiences in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more travel hacks and budget tips!