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The history of Indian railways dates back to the mid-19th century. The first railway line in India was constructed in 1853 by the British East India Company, connecting the cities of Bombay and Thane. This line was used to transport goods and commodities, but it was not until 1857 that the first passenger train service was launched between Bombay and Thane.

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The first railway line to be built by the Government of India was the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, which was established in 1853 and connected Bombay to the Deccan region of India. This railway line was extended to Madras and Calcutta in 1854 and 1855 respectively.

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Indian railways connecting important cities of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan

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By 1869, the Indian Railways had a network of some 9000 kilometers of railway lines connecting important cities and towns of the country. This network was further expanded in the subsequent years. In 1871, the Indian Railways made its first international connection with the opening of a line between Peshawar and Kabul in Afghanistan.

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The East India Railway Company was established in 1845 and was responsible for the construction of railway lines in the eastern part of the country. The North-Western Railway Company was established in 1849 and was responsible for the construction of railway lines in the north-western part of the country.

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In 1951, the Indian Railways was nationalized and the Indian Railway network was combined into one unified network. The Indian Railways has undergone several transformations since then, and today it is the largest railway network in Asia and the fourth largest railway network in the world.