Indian Railways Guide: Time Table, Trains, Stations, PNR

Indian Railways runs thousands of passenger trains every day, from premium services like Vande Bharat and Rajdhani to budget trains like Garib Rath and local passenger services. This hub helps you find time tables, understand the different train types and learn how to read your PNR status before you travel.

Search and Plan Your Journey

Good planning starts with knowing which trains run on your route and when. These pages cover the basics:

Trains between stations: find trains from one station to another with timings and running days.
Indian Railway time table: browse schedules by train type or station.
Train time table PDF: how to download the official Trains at a Glance publication.
Special trains list: extra trains for festivals and holidays.
PNR status guide: what CNF, RAC and WL mean on your ticket.

Train timings and rules can change, so confirm final details on the official IRCTC or NTES site before you book or travel.

Types of Indian Railway Trains

Indian Railways offers many train categories. They differ in speed, comfort, classes and fares, so choosing the right type can save both time and money.

Premium trains

These are fully air-conditioned services with higher fares and fewer stops.

Vande Bharat Express: semi-high-speed chair car trains between major cities.
Rajdhani Express: premium AC trains linking New Delhi with state capitals and major cities.
Shatabdi Express: day-time AC chair car trains for same-day travel.
Tejas Express: premium trains with upgraded onboard facilities on select routes.
Duronto Express: long-distance trains that stop only for technical halts.

Express and superfast trains

These cover the bulk of long-distance travel and offer a mix of AC and non-AC classes.

Sampark Kranti Express: superfast services linking important cities.
Humsafar Express: fully AC 3-tier trains with added amenities.
UDAY Express: double-decker AC trains that offer more seats on busy routes.
Jan Shatabdi Express: affordable day-time intercity trains.

Budget and unreserved trains

These trains focus on low fares and wide access.

Garib Rath: budget air-conditioned travel.
Amrit Bharat Express: non-AC sleeper and general coaches for long-distance travel.
Antyodaya Express: fully unreserved long-distance services.
Slow passenger trains: low-cost local and short-distance travel that stops at most stations.

Special trains

During Durga Puja, Diwali, Chhath and other peak seasons, Indian Railways adds extra trains. Our special trains list collects them with train numbers, routes and timings. Also see the Namo Bharat Express guide for rapid rail services between nearby cities.

Railway Station Guides

Knowing your station, its code and how to reach it makes the journey smoother. Start with the list of railway stations in India to find station codes by state, then read our guides to major Delhi stations:

New Delhi (NDLS)
Delhi Junction (DLI), also called Old Delhi
Delhi Cantt (DEC) train time table

Ticket Booking Basics

Indian Railways tickets are booked through the official IRCTC website and app, and through authorised counters and agents. A few basics help you book with confidence:

Classes: the main classes include Sleeper (SL), AC 3-tier (3A), AC 2-tier (2A), AC First Class (1A), AC Chair Car (CC) and Second Sitting (2S). Which classes are available depends on the train.
Advance booking: the booking window is set by Indian Railways and can change, so check IRCTC for the current period.
Last-minute travel: read our guide to Tatkal and Premium Tatkal booking rules before you try to book close to departure.
After booking: use the PNR status guide to understand whether your ticket is confirmed, RAC or waitlisted.

Official Railway Resources

For live and final information, use the official sources:

IRCTC: ticket booking, cancellations, refunds and account help
NTES (National Train Enquiry System): live train running status and schedules
Indian Railways: published time tables, notices and announcements

Indiaist is an independent website and is not affiliated with Indian Railways or IRCTC. We provide guides to help you plan, and we always recommend confirming key details on the official channels.

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