Editing Transport in India (section)

== Rail ==
{{Main|Rail transport in India|Indian Railways}}
[[File:Facade of CST.jpg|alt=|thumb|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj railway station entrance]]
[[File:Maharajas' Express - Mayur Mahal, dining (4809207224).jpg|alt=|thumb|The dining saloon of the luxurious Maharajas' Express.]]
[[File:Kolkata metro at Dakshineswar metro station.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Kolkata Metro]] is the only metro system in India to be controlled by Indian Railways.]]
Country-wide rail services in India are provided by the state-run [[Indian Railways]] (IR) under the supervision of the Ministry of Railways. IR is divided into eighteen zones including the [[Kolkata Metro]] Railway.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kolkata-Metro-is-now-the-17th-zone-of-Indian-Railways/articleshow/7186301.cms |title=Kolkata Metro is now the 17th zone of Indian Railways |website=The Times of India |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=8 June 2014 |archive-date=20 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620155254/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kolkata-Metro-is-now-the-17th-zone-of-Indian-Railways/articleshow/7186301.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The IR are further sub-divided into sixty seven divisions, each having a divisional headquarters.<ref name="Bhandari_Chap7">{{Cite book |title=Indian Railways: Glorious 150 years |first=R.R. |last=Bhandari |publisher=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-230-1254-4 |pages=44–52}}</ref><ref name="IRFCA_zones">{{Cite web |url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html |title=Geography: Railway zones |publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club |access-date=23 December 2008 |archive-date=19 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819043943/http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The railway network travels across the country, covering more than 7,325 stations over a total route length of more than {{convert|68080|km|mi|abbr=on}} and track length of about {{convert|132310|km|abbr=on}} as of March 2021.<ref name="IRYearBook">{{cite web|title=Indian Railways Year Book 2018-19|url=https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Year_Book/Year%20Book%202018-19-English.pdf|access-date=27 June 2020|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127144409/https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Year_Book/Year%20Book%202018-19-English.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> About {{convert|45000|km|abbr=on}} or 97% of the route-kilometre was electrified as of 2025.<ref name="IRYearBook"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Request Rejected |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/2024/Year%20Book%202022-23%20English.pdf |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref> IR provides an important mode of transport in India, transporting 23.1 million passengers and 3.3&nbsp;million tons of [[cargo|freight]] daily as of March 2019.<ref name="IRYearBook"/> IR is the world's [[List of companies by employees|ninth-largest employer]], it had 1.227&nbsp;million employees as of March 2019.<ref name="IRYearBook" /> As to [[rolling stock]], IR owns over 289,185 (freight) wagons, 74,003 coaches and 12,147 locomotives as of March 2019.<ref name="IRYearBook"/> It also owns [[locomotive]] and [[coach (rail)|coach]] production facilities. It operates both long distance and suburban rail systems.
[[File:Nilgiri Mountain Railway on Bridge, May 2010.JPG|thumb|A steam locomotive operated by [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway|Nilgiris Mountain Railways]] between [[Coonoor]] and [[Ooty]] in the [[Nilgiris district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].]]
The IR runs a number of special types of services which are given higher priority. The fastest train at present is the [[Vande Bharat Express]] with design speeds of up to 180&nbsp;km/h, though the fastest service is [[Gatiman Express]] with an operational speed of {{convert|160|km/h|abbr=on}} and average speed of {{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}}, since the Vande Bharat Express is capped at 130&nbsp;km/h for safety reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/28626|title=12050/Gatiman Express - Hazrat Nizamuddin to Virangana Lakshmibai NR/Northern Zone - Railway Enquiry|access-date=27 June 2020|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622085936/https://indiarailinfo.com/train/28626|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/gatimaan-express-12049-agc-to-nzm/28625/450/748 |title=Gatimaan Express/12049 Time Table/Schedule: Agra Cantt./AGC to Hazrat Nizamuddin/NZM NR/Northern Zone – Railways Enquiry |website=indiarailinfo.com |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820193904/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/gatimaan-express-12049-agc-to-nzm/28625/450/748 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-fastest-train-completes-final-test-run-in-record-time/articleshow/47534278.cms |title=India's fastest train completes final test run in record time – Times of India |newspaper=The Times of India |date=6 June 2015 |access-date=21 April 2024 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312120639/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-fastest-train-completes-final-test-run-in-record-time/articleshow/47534278.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/india-launches-first-160-kmh-semi-high-speed-train.html |title=India launches first 160&nbsp;km/h 'semi high speed' train |website=railwaygazette.com |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507144248/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/india-launches-first-160-kmh-semi-high-speed-train.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Rajdhani Express|Rajdhani]] trains introduced in 1969 provides connectivity between the national capital, Delhi and capitals of the states. On the other hand, [[Shatabdi Express]] provides connectivity between centres of tourism, pilgrimage or business. The [[Shatabdi Express]] trains run over short to medium distances and do not have sleepers while the [[Rajdhani Express]]es run over longer distances and have only sleeping accommodation. Both series of trains have a maximum permissible speed of {{convert|110|to|140|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} but average speed of less than 100&nbsp;km/h.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}.The [[Duronto Express]] trains provide connectivity between large cities.
Besides, the IR also operates a number of luxury trains which cater to various tourist circuits. For instance, the [[Palace on Wheels]] serves the Rajasthan circuit and [[Golden Chariot|The Golden Chariot]] serves the Karnataka and Goa circuits.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} There are two UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s on IR, the [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/945 |title=Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) |year=2004 |website=World Heritage List |publisher=[[World Heritage Committee]] |access-date=5 January 2009 |archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127020843/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/945 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Mountain railways of India]].<ref name="Mountain Railways of India">{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944/ |title=Mountain Railways of India |year=1999 |website=World Heritage List |publisher=[[World Heritage Committee]] |access-date=5 January 2009 |archive-date=19 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219024051/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter consists of three separate railway lines located in different parts of India, the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]], a {{RailGauge|610mm|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge railway]] in [[Lesser Himalayas]] in West Bengal, the [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]], a {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} [[rack railway]] in the [[Nilgiri Hills]] in Tamil Nadu and the [[Kalka-Shimla Railway]], a {{RailGauge|762mm|lk=on}} narrow-gauge railway in the [[Siwalik Hills]] in Himachal Pradesh.<ref name="Mountain Railways of India" />

In the freight segment, IR ferries various commodities and fuels in industrial, consumer, and agricultural segments across the length and breadth of India. IR has historically subsidised the passenger segment with income from the freight business. As a result, freight services are unable to compete with other modes of transport on both cost and speed of delivery, leading to continuous erosion of market share.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/IRSP_2016-17/Annual_Report_Accounts_Eng/2.pdf|title=Indian Railways White Paper 2016|date=25 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032211/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/IRSP_2016-17/Annual_Report_Accounts_Eng/2.pdf|archive-date=26 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> To counter this downward trend, IR has started new initiatives in freight segments including upgrading of existing goods sheds, attracting private capital to build multi-commodity multi-modal logistics terminals, changing container sizes, operating time-tabled freight trains, and tweaking with the freight pricing/product mix.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/Railways%20Presentation.pdf|title=INDIAN RAILWAYS 2017–2019 VISION & PLANS|date=25 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118230400/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/Railways%20Presentation.pdf|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In 1999, the [[Konkan Railway Corporation]] introduced the [[Konkan Railway Corporation#RORO|Roll on Roll off]] (RORO) service, a unique [[Rolling Highway|road-rail synergy system]], on the section between [[Kolad]] in Maharashtra and [[Verna, Goa|Verna]] in Goa,<ref name="pibroro">{{Cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=949 |title=Road-Rail Synergy System |website=Press release, Press Information Bureau, dated 2004-20-05 |access-date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605172834/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=949 |url-status=live }}</ref> which was extended up to [[Surathkal]] in Karnataka in 2004.<ref name="busistdroro">{{Cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=186663 |title=New Konkan Rly service begins |newspaper=Business Standard India |access-date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607140440/http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=186663 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="hinduroro">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/06/12/stories/2004061200931900.htm |title=RORO service again on Konkan Railway |website=Online edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2004-06-11 |access-date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810204914/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/06/12/stories/2004061200931900.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The RORO service, the first of its kind in India, allowed trucks to be transported on [[flatbed truck|flatbed]] trailers. It was highly popular,<ref name="rorohindupopular">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/14/stories/2003111402032000.htm |title=Convergence on the Konkan Railway |first=S. |last=Vydhianathan |website=The Hindu |date=2003-11-14 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627121821/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/14/stories/2003111402032000.htm |archive-date=27 June 2006 |access-date=22 December 2008}}</ref> carrying about {{formatnum:110000}} trucks and bringing in about {{INR}} 740&nbsp;million worth of earnings to the corporation until 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.konkanrailway.com/website/tender/ro-ro.pdf |title=Roll On–Roll Off (Roro) Service on Konkan Railway |website=Konkan Railway Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090304113259/http://www.konkanrailway.com/website/tender/ro-ro.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2009 |access-date=22 December 2008}}</ref>

Perhaps the game-changer for IR in the freight segment are the new [[Dedicated freight corridors in India|dedicated freight corridors]] that are expected to be completed by 2020. When fully implemented, the new corridors, spanning around 3300&nbsp;km, could support hauling of trains up to 1.5&nbsp;km in length with 32.5-ton axle-load at speeds of {{convert|100|km/h}}. Also, they will free-up capacity on dense passenger routes and will allow IR to run more trains at higher speeds. Additional corridors are being planned to augment the freight infrastructure in the country.

===Commuter rail transport===
In many Indian metropolitan regions, rail is the more efficient and affordable mode of public transport for daily commute. Examples of types of services include long-established local or suburban rail services in cities such as [[Mumbai Suburban Railway|Mumbai]], [[Kolkata Suburban Railway|Kolkata]] and [[Chennai Suburban Railway|Chennai]], the century-old tram service in [[trams in Kolkata|Kolkata]], the more recent metro service in [[Kolkata Metro|Kolkata]], [[Delhi Metro|Delhi]] and [[Chennai Metro|Chennai]] and [[Mumbai Monorail|Monorail]] feeder service in [[Mumbai]].

==== Suburban rail ====
[[File:AC-EMU-Mumbai.jpg|alt=|thumb|Mumbai suburban rail.]]
[[File:Velachery Railway station June 2010.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Chennai MRTS]] and [[Chennai Suburban Railway|Chennai Suburban]], the first elevated railway in India.]]
{{Main|Urban rail transit in India}}

The [[Mumbai Suburban Railway]] was the first rail system in India, which began its services in Mumbai in 1853, transporting 6.3&nbsp;million passengers daily and has the highest passenger density in the world.<ref name="subrefmumbai">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mrvc.indianrail.gov.in/overview.htm |title=Overview of the existing Mumbai Suburban Railway |publisher=[[Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620033027/http://www.mrvc.indianrail.gov.in/overview.htm |archive-date=20 June 2008 |access-date=31 March 2009}}</ref> The [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]] was established in 1854,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/10/27/stories/2006102700310900.htm |title=Opening up new frontiers |date=27 October 2006 |work=The Hindu Business Line |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> and the [[Chennai Suburban Railway]] in 1931.<ref name="IRFCA_ElectricTraction1">{{cite web | title = Electric Traction – I | publisher = IRFCA.org | url = http://irfca.org/faq/faq-elec.html#vol | access-date = 17 November 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105135017/http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-elec.html#vol | archive-date = 5 November 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref> The operational suburban rail systems in India are in [[Mumbai Suburban Railway]], [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]], [[Chennai Suburban Railway]], [[Lucknow-Kanpur Suburban Railway]], [[Delhi Suburban Railway]], [[Pune Suburban Railway]], [[Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System]], [[Barabanki-Lucknow Suburban Railway]] and [[Karwar railway division]].<ref name="Singh" /> Other planned systems are [[Bengaluru Suburban Railway]], [[Ahmedabad Suburban Railway]] and [[Coimbatore Suburban Railway]].

==== Mass rapid transit system ====
The [[Chennai MRTS]], which began services in 1995, remains the country's first and only mass rapid transit rail. Although distinct from the Chennai Suburban Railway, the MRTS remains integrated in a wider urban rail network.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ajai Sreevatsan|title=Evolution of Chennai's Public Transport System|url=http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/00824/Evolution_of_Chenna_824269a.pdf|access-date=29 February 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2011|location=Chennai, India|archive-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105193053/http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/00824/Evolution_of_Chenna_824269a.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Chennai Metro Rail at Koyambedu.JPG|thumb|[[Chennai Metro]] ]]

==== Metro ====
{{Main|Urban rail transit in India}}

The first modern [[rapid transit]] in India is the [[Kolkata Metro]] which started its operations in 1984 as the 17th Zone of the Indian Railways.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kolkata-Metro-is-now-the-17th-zone-of-Indian-Railways/articleshow/7186301.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104080043/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-29/india/28264643_1_metro-railway-kolkata-metro-foundation-stone |url-status=live |archive-date=2012-11-04 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Kolkata Metro is now the 17th zone of Indian Railways }}</ref> The [[Delhi Metro]] in New Delhi is India's second conventional metro and began operations in 2002. The [[Namma Metro]] in Bengaluru began operations in 2011 as India's third operational rapid transit system. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Aditi |first=Anwesha |date=August 2019 |title=Mass Transit in India: A Need for Change |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335004369 }}</ref>

The operational systems are [[Kolkata Metro]], [[Delhi Metro]], [[Namma Metro|Bengaluru Metro]], [[Rapid Metro Gurgaon|Gurgaon Metro]], [[Mumbai Metro]], [[Jaipur Metro]], [[Chennai Metro]], [[Kochi Metro]], [[Lucknow Metro]], [[Nagpur Metro]], [[Noida Metro]], [[Hyderabad Metro]], [[Kanpur Metro]], [[Ahmedabad Metro]], [[Pune Metro]], [[Navi Mumbai Metro]], [[Agra Metro]] and [[Ahmedabad Metro]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Metro Rail Networks: Quick Guide, Routes Map, Start Date |url=https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/indian-metro-rail-networks/ |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=FabHotels Travel Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627130249/https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/indian-metro-rail-networks/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The under implementation systems are [[Varanasi Metro]], [[Madurai Metro]], Vijayawada Metro, [[Patna Metro]], [[Meerut Metro]], [[Guwahati Metro]], [[Chandigarh Metro]], [[Bhopal Metro]], [[Kozhikode Light Metro]], [[Indore Metro]], [[Thiruvananthapuram Metro]], [[Coimbatore Metro]], Visakhapatnam Metro, [[Surat Metro]], [[Jammu Metro]], [[Srinagar Metro]], Greater Gwalior Metro, [[Jabalpur Metro]] and [[Greater Nashik Metro]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metro Rail Projects in India {{!}} Metro Rail Today |url=https://metrorailtoday.com/page/metro-rail-projects-in-india |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Metro Rail Today: Gateway to Rail & Metro Industry}}</ref>  Currently, 34 km of rapid transit system is operational and rest is under construction or in planning in several major cities of India and will be opened shortly.

==== Monorail ====
[[File:Mumbai Monorail train at platform.jpg|alt=|thumb|A monorail in Mumbai]]
{{main|Urban rail transit in India}}

[[Monorail]] is generally considered as a feeder system for metro trains in India. In 2004, monorail was first proposed for Kolkata. But, later the idea was put on hold due to lack of funds and infeasibility.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Light at end of tunnel for Kolkata's monorail project {{!}} Kolkata News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Light-at-end-of-tunnel-for-Kolkatas-monorail-project/articleshow/54575036.cms|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-05-05|date=29 September 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003005035/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Light-at-end-of-tunnel-for-Kolkatas-monorail-project/articleshow/54575036.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Mumbai Monorail]], which started in 2014, is the first operational [[monorail]] network in India<ref name="times">{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-monorail-to-run-in-two-years/articleshow/2413046.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811120003/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-29/mumbai/27981519_1_mumbai-monorail-jacob-circle-mmrda-joint-commissioner |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Mumbai monorail to run in two years |date=27 September 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 March 2009}}</ref> (excluding the [[Skybus Metro]]) since the [[Patiala State Monorail Trainways]] closed in 1927.

Monorail systems were also planned in [[Chennai Monorail|Chennai]], [[Kolkata Monorail|Kolkata]], Allahabad, [[Bengaluru Monorail|Bengaluru]], [[Delhi Monorail|Delhi]], [[Indore Monorail|Indore]], [[Kanpur Monorail|Kanpur]], [[Navi Mumbai Monorail|Navi Mumbai]], [[Patna Monorail|Patna]], [[Pune Monorail|Pune]], [[Ahmedabad Monorail|Ahmedabad]], [[Aizawl Monorail|Aizawl]], [[Bhubaneswar Monorail|Bhubaneswar]], Jodhpur, [[Kota Kinabalu Monorail|Kota]], Nagpur and Nashik.

==== Tram ====
[[File:Kolkata transport.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Fibreglass made tram|New fibreglass made tram]]
{{Main|Trams in India}}

In addition to trains, trams were introduced in many cities in the late 19th century, though almost all of these have been phased out. The [[trams in Kolkata]] is currently the only tram system in the country.

=== International links ===
Rail links between India and neighbouring countries are not well-developed.[[Transport in Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] is connected by a biweekly train, the ''[[Maitree Express]]'' that runs from [[Kolkata]] to [[Dhaka]] and a weekly train, the ''[[Bandhan Express]]'' that runs from [[Kolkata]] to [[Khulna]]. Two rail links to [[Transport in Nepal|Nepal]] exist—passenger services between [[Jaynagar, Bihar|Jaynagar]] and [[Bijalpura]], and freight services between [[Raxaul]] and [[Birganj]].<ref name="indianepal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/DEPTTS/O&M/Annexture_1_1_1.pdf |title=Brief on the matter relating to Nepal |website=Official webpage of Indian Railways |access-date=1 June 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

No rail link exists with [[Transport in Myanmar|Myanmar]] but a railway line is to be built through from [[Jiribam]] (in Manipur) to [[Tamu, Myanmar|Tamu]] through [[Imphal]] and [[Moreh, India|Moreh]].<ref name="imphalmorehline">{{Cite news |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IA03Df01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104221436/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IA03Df01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=4 January 2007 |title=India's rail-building challenge |first=Sudha |last=Ramachandran |date=3 January 2007 |work=[[Asia Times]] |access-date=16 April 2009 |page=2}}</ref> The construction of this missing link, as per the feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs through [[RITES]] Ltd, is estimated to cost {{INRConvert|29.41|b}}.{{cn|date=May 2024}} An 18&nbsp;km railway link with [[Transport in Bhutan|Bhutan]] is being constructed from [[Hashimara]] in West Bengal to Toribari in Bhutan. No rail link exists with either China or [[Transport in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-inter.html |title=IRFCA:Indian Railways FAQ:Geography:International |publisher=IRFCA, website of the Indian Railway Fan Club |access-date=24 June 2009 |archive-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829015126/http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-inter.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== High-speed rail ===
{{Main|High-speed rail in India}}

India does not have any railways classified as [[high-speed rail]] (HSR), which have operational speeds in excess of {{convert|200|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uic.org/IMG/pdf/20140901_high_speed_lines_in_the_world.pdf |title=Archived copy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U8lfU2Gh?url=http://www.uic.org/IMG/pdf/20140901_high_speed_lines_in_the_world.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]], the major national parties ([[Indian National Congress]] and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]) pledged to introduce high-speed rail. The INC pledged to connect "all of India's million-plus cities by high-speed rail."<ref>[http://inc.in/manifesto/issues/infrastructure-11-54.aspx INC Manifesto – infrastructure] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402185109/http://inc.in/manifesto/issues/infrastructure-11-54.aspx |date=2 April 2014}}</ref> Later, the BJP, which won the election, promised to build the [[Diamond Quadrilateral]] project, which would connect the cities of [[Chennai]], [[Delhi]], [[Kolkata]], and [[Mumbai]] via high-speed rail.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bjp.org/images/pdf_2014/full_manifesto_english_07.04.2014.pdf |title=BJP Manifesto 2014 |website=bjp.org |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704041114/http://www.bjp.org/images/pdf_2014/full_manifesto_english_07.04.2014.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> This project was approved as a priority for the new government in the incoming prime minister's speech.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/diamond-quadrilateral-of-high-speed-trains/ |title=Diamond quadrilateral of high-speed trains |date=10 June 2014 |website=indianexpress.com |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=13 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813222712/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/diamond-quadrilateral-of-high-speed-trains/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction of one kilometer of high speed railway track will cost {{INRConvert|1|b}} – {{INRConvert|1.4|b}}, which is 10–14 times higher than the construction of standard railway.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/laying-high-speed-train-corridor-to-cost-rs-80000-crore/article6999196.ece?widget-art=four-rel |title=Laying high speed train corridor to cost Rs. 80,000 crore |website=The Hindu |date=16 March 2015 |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127030619/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/laying-high-speed-train-corridor-to-cost-rs-80000-crore/article6999196.ece?widget-art=four-rel |url-status=live }}</ref>
Indian government approved the choice of Japan to build India's first high-speed railway. The planned rail would run some {{convert|500|km|abbr=on}} between [[Mumbai]] and the western city of [[Ahmedabad]], at a top speed of {{convert|320|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-sign-deal-with-japan-to-get-first-bullet-train/article7961724.ece |title=India to sign deal with Japan to get first bullet train |website=The Hindu |date=8 December 2015 |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802071232/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-sign-deal-with-japan-to-get-first-bullet-train/article7961724.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/12/japans-high-speed-rail-breakthrough/ |title=Japan's High-Speed Rail Breakthrough |first=Shang-su |last=Wu |website=thediplomat.com |access-date=12 February 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220034919/https://thediplomat.com/2015/12/japans-high-speed-rail-breakthrough/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the proposal, construction was expected to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2023. It would cost about {{INRConvert|980|b}} and be financed by a [[low-interest loan]] from Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/indian-cabinet-agrees-to-pick-japan-for-high-speed-rail-project-1449744059 |title=India Said to Pick Japan for High-Speed Rail Project |last=Roy |first=Rajesh |date=10 December 2015 |via=www.wsj.com |access-date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518014556/https://www.wsj.com/articles/indian-cabinet-agrees-to-pick-japan-for-high-speed-rail-project-1449744059 |url-status=live }}</ref> India will use the wheel-based [[High-speed rail#Records|300 km/h HSR technology]], instead of new [[maglev]] [[L0 Series|600 km/h technology of Japan]] used in [[Chūō Shinkansen]]. India is expected to have its first HSR line operational from 2026 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Rajesh Kumar |date=2025-01-06 |title=India's first bullet train will be launched soon: PM Modi |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jan/06/indias-first-bullet-train-will-be-launched-soon-pm-modi |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

=== Light rail ===
{{main|Urban rail transit in India}}

Like monorail, light rail is also considered as a feeder system for the metro systems. The planned systems are [[Kolkata Light Rail Transit]] and [[Delhi Light Rail Transit]].