Passenger Operations – Railway GK Capsule
“Moving India – 2.3 crore passengers daily, 13 lakh tonnes freight daily.” – Indian Railways Vision 2030
1. Technical Dimensions & Specifications
| Parameter |
Value (as on 31.03.2023) |
| Route km |
68,371 km |
| Running track km |
107,149 km |
| Total track km |
128,305 km |
| Stations |
7,308 (A-1 to E category) |
| Coaches on line |
83,736 |
| EMU/MEMU/DMU |
12,259 |
| Daily passenger trains |
13,523 (Mail/Exp + Suburban) |
| Average speed Mail/Exp |
55.7 km/h (2022-23) |
| Average speed EMU |
41.2 km/h |
| Longest run (single train) |
4,286 km – Vivek Express (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari) |
| Highest altitude station |
Ghum (2,258 m) on Darjiling Himalayan Railway |
2. Coach & Train Coding System (Indian Railways)
| 1st Letter |
Coach Type |
Example |
| A |
AC 1-tier |
H1, A1 |
| B |
AC 2-tier |
A2, B1 |
| C |
AC Chair Car |
C1 |
| D |
AC 3-tier |
B3, D1 |
| E |
End-on-Generator (EOG) |
EOG |
| F |
Second Class (Reserved) |
F1 |
| G |
Guard-cum-Brake van |
GS |
| H |
AC 1-tier cum 2-tier |
HA1 |
| J |
AC 3-tier Economy |
M1 |
| L |
SLR (Seating-cum-Luggage-cum-Brake) |
SLR |
| M |
Non-AC Chair Car |
D1 |
| N |
AC 3-tier Economy (new) |
N1 |
| P |
Pantry Car |
PC |
| R |
Restaurant Car |
RC |
| S |
Sleeper (Non-AC) |
S1-S6 |
| T |
Tourist Car |
TC |
| U |
Double Decker AC Chair Car |
U1 |
| V |
Vistadome |
V1 |
| W |
AC Hot-Water Buffet |
WB |
| Y |
Military Reserved |
Y1 |
3. Reservation & Ticketing Facts
- PRS (Passenger Reservation System): launched 1986 at Delhi, nationwide since 1995.
- UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System): rolled out 2002; now 100% computerised.
- UTSonMobile: 2014; QR & GPS based; 2.5 cr tickets/month (2023).
- Vikalp (Alternate Train Accommodation): 2016; 1.2 cr passengers benefitted FY 23.
- HO quota: 1% per class (min 2 berths) – Head-quarters quota.
- DF quota: 4 berths per coach for defence personnel.
- Tatkal: 30% of accommodation; opens 10 AM (AC), 11 AM (Non-AC) previous day.
- Premium Tatkal: dynamic pricing; 30% of Tatkal quota.
- Child fare: <5 yrs free (no seat); 5-12 yrs full berth @ 50% fare.
- Concessions: 53 categories; largest 40% for senior citizens (M 60+, F 58+).
- MST (Monthly Season Ticket): cost = 15 single journeys; QST = 45 journeys.
- UTS journey limit: 200 km suburban, 300 km non-suburban.
4. Classes of Travel – Fare Hierarchy (High → Low)
- Anubhuti (EA) – dynamic
- AC 1-tier (1A)
- Executive Vistadome (EV)
- AC 2-tier (2A)
- AC 3-tier (3A)
- AC 3-tier Economy (3E)
- AC Chair Car (CC)
- Sleeper (SL)
- Second Sitting (2S)
- Unreserved (UR/GS)
5. Suburban Systems at a Glance
| System |
Rte km |
EMU cars |
Daily passengers (cr) |
| Mumbai suburban |
427 |
1,980 |
30 |
| Kolkata suburban |
656 |
1,065 |
35 |
| Chennai suburban |
200 |
330 |
2.5 |
| Hyderabad MMTS |
97 |
84 |
1.2 |
| Delhi Ring-Rail |
35 |
80 |
0.12 |
- EMUs: 25 kV AC, 4/6/9/12/15-car; max 120 km/h.
- MEMUs: 160 km/h design; ICF & LHB design; 20% more energy efficient.
6. Historical Milestones
| Year |
Event |
| 1853 |
First passenger train – Bori Bunder to Thane, 34 km, 400 passengers |
| 1870 |
All-India rail route (Cal–Bombay) opened |
| 1892 |
First ladies compartment (BB&CI) |
| 1902 |
First electric train – Bombay suburban, 1500 V DC |
| 1951 |
All IR zones unified; 42 separate railways merged |
| 1956 |
First 9-tier coaches (ICF) |
| 1969 |
First Rajdhani (NDLS–HWH), 145 km/h |
| 1986 |
PRS (CRIS) commissioned |
| 1988 |
First Shatabdi (NDLS–JHS) |
| 1995 |
CONCERT (common reservation) country-wide |
| 2002 |
UTS & Jan Shatabdi introduced |
| 2016 |
Vikalp, optional catering, dynamic fare in premium trains |
| 2018 |
100% LED lighting & Bio-toilets in coaches |
| 2019 |
First private train – Tejas Express (IRCTC) |
| 2020 |
“Clone trains” & “Rail Neer” water ATMs |
| 2022 |
Amrit Bharat push-pull non-AC sleeper (long-distance) |
| 2023 |
100% digital ticketing target achieved (UTS+PRS) |
7. Current Initiatives (2023-24)
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: 1,275 stations to be re-developed (G+2 model, airport-like).
- Vande Bharat Sleeper: 160 km/h aluminium-body; 2024 launch.
- Vande Bharat (Chair): 102 rakes; 200 more by 2026.
- Vistadome coaches: 191 on 50 routes; 250 more sanctioned.
- Bharat Gaurav trains: theme-based, private operators.
- Rail Madad: 139-based grievance redressal, avg closure 4 hrs.
- SMS ‘139’: 9 languages, 24×7.
- UTS-Wallet: R-Wallet; one-time 3% bonus on recharge ≥₹500.
- QR-code paperless: 1,200 stations.
- Faceless ticket checking: handheld terminal (HTT) with POS, 100% cashless fine.
- Railway Sainik Board: 100% concession for war-widows.
- Green toilets: 1.20 lakh bio-toilets; 100% discharge-free by 2025.
- Divyangjan facilities: 6,590 coaches with 1% reserved slots; 711 stations with lifts/escalators.
8. Weight & Dimension Limits (LHB vs ICF)
| Feature |
ICF |
LHB |
| Tare wt |
43 t |
39 t |
| Length |
22.3 m |
23.5 m |
| Width |
3.24 m |
3.24 m |
| Height |
4.27 m |
4.27 m |
| Max speed |
110 km/h |
160 km/h |
| Coupler |
Screw |
CBC (crashworthy) |
| Lifespan |
25 yrs |
35 yrs |
9. Train Numbering Logic (5-digit)
- 1st digit: Type/Zone (0–9)
0–1: regular Mail/Exp; 2: superfast; 3: Kolkata; 4: Metro; 5: Passenger; 6: suburban MEMU; 7: Hyderabad; 8–9: reserved.
- 2nd digit: Home zone code (NR-1, WR-2, CR-3…)
- Last 3 digits: Unique ID; odd ↓, even ↑ (generally).
10. Premium Train Brands
| Train |
Intro |
Max Speed |
Distance |
| Rajdhani |
1969 |
130–160 km/h |
18 pairs |
| Shatabdi |
1988 |
130–160 |
36 pairs |
| Duronto |
2009 |
130 |
26 pairs |
| Vande Bharat |
2019 |
160 |
102 services |
| Gatimaan |
2016 |
160 |
NDLS–AGC |
| Tejas |
2017 |
130 |
6 pairs |
| Humsafar |
2016 |
130 |
Fully 3A, LED |
| Antyodaya |
2016 |
130 |
UR-LHB |
| Uday |
2018 |
130 |
Double-decker CC |
11. Safety & Security Provisions
- RPF strength: 75,000 (2023); 4,500 Mahila battalions.
- GRP: State-funded; 2,700 posts on cost-sharing.
- CCTV: 1,200 stations, 4,000 trains under Nirbhaya fund.
- MERAS (Mobile-enabled Rail Security): 2021.
- ICMS (Integrated Coaching Management System): live coach tracking.
- Fire & smoke alarm: required in AC coaches since 2018.
- Brake van: 1 per 10 coaches (min 1); equipped with 2 hand brakes, 2 wheel coaches, 2 draw bars.
12. 15+ MCQs for Quick Drill
1. Which is the longest running train in Indian Railways?
**Answer:** Vivek Express (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari, 4,286 km)
2. Tatkal booking for AC class opens at what time?
**Answer:** 10 AM (one day prior to departure)
3. The first electric train in India ran between which stations?
**Answer:** Bombay VT and Byculla (3 Feb 1925)
4. What is the maximum permissible speed of LHB coaches?
**Answer:** 160 km/h
5. Which of the following is NOT a class code for AC 3-tier Economy?
**Answer:** 2A
6. The UTS mobile app journey limit for non-suburban area is
**Answer:** 300 km
7. The first Rajdhani Express was flagged off in
**Answer:** 1969
8. How many berths are kept under Defence quota per coach?
**Answer:** 4
9. Which city has the highest suburban passenger density?
**Answer:** Mumbai (≈30 lakh/day)
10. The average speed of Mail/Express trains during 2022-23 was
**Answer:** 55.7 km/h
11. The coach code “EOG” stands for
**Answer:** End-on-Generator car
12. Which train was the first private train operated by IRCTC?
**Answer:** Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express (2019)
13. Senior citizen concession for males starts at the age of
**Answer:** 60 years
14. The numbering of Duronto trains generally starts with digit
**Answer:** 2
15. Which of the following is the highest rail station in India?
**Answer:** Ghum (2,258 m)
16. The concept of “Vikalp” is related to
**Answer:** Alternate train accommodation against wait-listed passengers
17. The fire-retardant furnishing material used in modern coaches is called
**Answer:** Rexene & HOFR (Heat & Oil resistant Fire Retardant)
Revise → Recall → Rehearse
BETA
