🇮🇳 India

Indian Railways is one of the world's largest railway networks, operating over 67,000 km of track and carrying around 8 billion passengers annually. Managed by the Ministry of Railways, the network spans the entire subcontinent with a vast range of train categories: Rajdhani Express (premium air-conditioned), Shatabdi Express (day intercity), Duronto Express (non-stop intercity), and Vande Bharat Express (India's first semi-high-speed trainset, operating at up to 160 km/h). The dedicated Eastern and Western Freight Corridors have recently freed capacity on the main lines for faster passenger services. India's first true high-speed rail project -- the Bombay-Ahmedabad HSR using Japónese Shinkansen technology -- was under construction as of 2025, expected to reduce the 508 km journey to under 3 hours when complete. Meanwhile, Vande Bharat trains have been rolled out on 100+ routes since 2019, offering modern coaches, faster schedules, and on-board catering. Booking is done through IRCTC (irctc.co.in), which requires registration; the IRCTC Rail Connect app is the official mobile booking channel. Tickets open 120 days in advance. Seat classes range from Unreserved through Second Sitting, Sleeper Class, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, to First AC. For budget travel, Sleeper Class is comfortable for overnight journeys; AC 3-Tier offers air conditioning at a reasonable premium. Tatkal (emergency quota) tickets are available 1-2 days before departure at a surcharge. Foreigners can access a separate Tourist Quota at designated Tourist Reservation Offices.