Indian Railways- Establishment, First Train, Origin, History, Economy, development, employees, production units, challenge, measures for improvement-   

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Indian Railways-

Indian Railways system is the country's biggest nationalized undertaking. It is the largest system of it's kind in Asia and the second largest in the World (first America) Covering 63,000 kilometres of track laid across 7,000 stations, running around 16,000 trains everyday. The railways are also the largest employees in the country.

Origin of Indian Railways-

Indian Railways, World's second largest rail network under a single management, have been contributing to the industrial and economic landscape for over 150 years. It started it's journey in 1853 on a very small-scale for a distance of 20 miles. By the end of 19th century, it's coverage was 25000 miles. In the next fifty years 16000 kilometres was added to the total coverage of distance. 

Railways were first introduced in India on April 16, 1853, the first train steamed out of Bombay to Thane, covering a distance of 34 kilometres. The second train in India steamed out of Howrah to Huggley in 1854. It was Lord Dalhousie who suggested the system of trunk lines connecting the hinterland of Bombay, Bengal and Madras provinces with their principal port. On the advice of the Ackworth Committee, the Government took over the management of the bulk of the railways in 1922.

Signalling-

As of today about 85 percent of the station have interlocking system of signalling which increases line capacity in addition to providing greater safety by eliminating human errors and failure. The longest railway plateform in India is at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), it is about 1.3 km. Largest Marshalling yard in India is at Mughal Sarai of Uttar Pradesh. Two states in India namely Sikkim and Meghalaya donot have any Railways. 

Past Details of Indian Railways-

By 1950, Railways covered up to 54,000 km of the present territory of India. Britishers gave importance to development of Railways for tapping up Indian resources and for transportation of their manufactured goods.

In 1950- 51 the route length of Railways was 53,600 km, the running track was 59,300 km and the total track 77,600 km.

In 2000-01, railways had route length of 63,000 kilometres, running track of 81,200 and the total track of 108,000 km. The total route kilometre (RKM) of Indian Railways at the end of 2004 was 63221 kilometres, comprising broad gauge (46, 807 RKM), metre gauge (13290 RKM) and narrow gauge (3124 RKM). Almost 28 percent of the vast network has been electrified. 

Thus, route length increased by less than 20 percent. However the running track rose to 30 percent and total track increased by 40 percent. The track density increased from 1.1 in 1950- 51 to 1.7 in 2000-01.

The trains have a 5 digit numbering system as the Indian Railways runs about 10,000 trains daily. As of 31 March 2012, 22,224 km (13,809 minutes) 34% of the total 65,000 km (40,000 minutes) route length was electrified. Since 1960 almost all electrified section on IR use 25,000 volt AC traction through overhead catenary delivery. 

Indian Railways is the biggest of undertaking in the country and employing 1.54 million workers. The number of trains everyday is around 11,000 of which 7000 are passenger trains. 

Of the two main segments- frieght and passenger-of the Indian Railways, the freight segment accounts for roughly 2/3rd of revenues. Within the freight segment, bulk traffic accounts for 95% of which 50% is coal. There is a lot of qualitative improvement in railway services including quantitative use. The capacity of coaches has increased because of broad gauge track (1.676 metre) along with increase in its number. The track utilization increased from 1.5 percent to 6.5 percent. 

The bulk stock commodities of coal, food grains, fertilizers, petroleum products, finished stock and materials for steel plants- all these constitutes 95 percent of freight traffic and total goods traffic produced 2/3rd of Railways earning. The total earning of Railways is approximately Rs. 45,000 crore. One-third of it is spent on its workers that are 50 percent of total expense. 

Production Units: 

Indian Railways manufacturers much of its rolling stock and heavy engineering components at its 6 manufacturing plants called production unit for locos, coaches and components, which are managed directly by the Ministry. There are also exit independent organisation under the control of the Railway Board for electrification, modernization, research and design and training offices. There are 11 public undertakings under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways viz. 

I. Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company Limited (BWEL)

II. Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)

III. Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR)

IV. Dedicated Frieght Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) 

V. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) 

VI. Indian Railway Construction (IRCON) International Limited

VII. Indian Railways Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) 

VIII. Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRC) 

IX. Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) 

X. Railtel Corporation of India Limited (Rail Tel) 

XI. Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited ( RITES) 

XII. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) 

Railways are more efficient and economical as compared to other means of transportation.

I. Railways are more than six times efficient than roads and four times economical. 

II. Railway construction costs six times lower than roads. 

III. Social cost of environmental damage is also low. It is the only means of transport that utilizes energy more efficiently. 

 

‌In order to keep pace with the technology change, Indian Railways has entered into an agreement with M/s General Motors, USA for transfer of Technology for manufacture of 4000 HP, State-of-the-art, AC-DC microprocessor controlled, fuel efficient locomotives at Diesel Locomotives Works (DLW), Varanasi and with M/s ABB manufacture of 6000 HP, 3 Phase Electric Locomotive at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan.

1. The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works:

The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is the government owned factory, it started production in 1949. The first locomotive turned out on November 1, 1950. The production of steam locomotive was totally stopped in 1971. First D.C electric loco was turned out in 1961-62.

2. Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala (Punjab):

Indian Railways has also entered into a transfer of Technology contract for manufacture of LHB designed high speed light weight coaches at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala (Punjab). It went into production and turned out it's first coach in March 1988. The factory's rated capacity is 1000 coaches per annum. 

3. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur (Chennai):

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur (Chennai) produces furnished passenger coaches. It commenced production in 1955-56. It is one of the largest railway coach building factories in the World.

4. The Wheel and Axle Plant near Bengaluru in Yelahanka:

The plant produces approximately 70,000 wheels and 23,000 axles per annum.

5. Diesel Component Work, Patiala (Punjab):

The Diesel Component Works at Patiala is the first railway production unit to be established in Punjab. This unit produces components of diesel locomotives of international specification.

6. The Locomotives Works at Varanasi manufactured:

The Locomotives Works at Varanasi manufactured its first locomotive in January 1964. Here, Diesel electric main line locos and also heavy duty shunters are built.

The major challenge before Indian Railways is providing services matching with the customer's expectation and in asssimilating rapid changes in technology. This can be met effectively through continuous updation of knowledge, skills and attitude of railway staff. The Reform programme embarked upon by Indian Railways to address various issues for business orientation of the organisation includes development of fully computerized cost accounting organised on business lines. 

Policy initiative for introduction of competition in certain sectors like container business and concessioning of loss making branch line, have been taken up as a part of the programme. The programme also includes simplification of procedures to improve customer interface, provision of freight forwarders and private freight terminals. 

Measures taken for Improvements-  

Some of the other measures taken for improvements are

I. line capacity augmentation on certain critical sector and modernization of signalling system. 

II. unit train operation for bulk commodities like coal. 

III. increase in roller bearing equipped wagons. 

IV. increasing trailing loads to 4500 tonnes.

V. Operation UNI-gauge on Indian Railway and

VI. strengthening the track structure by providing heavier and stronger rails and concrete sleepers.