Question

What are the three types of railway track system present in India?

Answer 1

The Indian railway system features three primary types of track gauges, categorized by the distance between the inner sides of the rails:

1. Broad Gauge: Features a track width of 1,676 mm (5 feet 6 inches). This is the standard and most dominant gauge in India, designed to handle heavy freight loads and high-speed passenger traffic across the country.
2. Metre Gauge: Features a track width of 1,000 mm (1 metre). While once widespread, the vast majority of metre-gauge lines have been converted to broad gauge under the nationwide Project Unigauge initiative to improve efficiency.
3. Narrow Gauge: Features smaller track widths of either 762 mm (2 feet 6 inches) or 610 mm (2 feet). These tracks are typically preserved on specific hilly, mountainous terrain or heritage routes, such as famous toy train circuits.