All Types of Indian Trains Explained — From Local to Rajdhani

Indian Railways runs over 13,000 trains daily, and they're not all the same. From a ₹5 suburban ride in Mumbai to a ₹5 lakh week-long luxury trip on the Maharajas' Express, the range is staggering. This guide covers every train type you'll encounter, organized from most basic to most premium.

1. Passenger Trains

The most basic long-distance train. Passenger trains stop at every single station on their route — every village halt, every unmanned crossing. They're slow (30–40 km/h average), and seating is almost entirely unreserved.

Who uses them: Rural commuters, short-distance travelers, and anyone reaching small stations not served by express trains. Fare: Cheapest possible. Delhi to a station 100 km away costs ₹30–50. Comfort: Minimal. Hard seats, no AC, basic fans. But if you're going to a small town, this might be your only direct train.

2. Suburban/Local Trains

The lifeline of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. These trains run on dedicated suburban networks with trains every 3–10 minutes during peak hours. They cover distances of 30–80 km within a metropolitan area.

Who uses them: Daily commuters — millions of them. Mumbai locals alone carry 7.5 million passengers daily. Fare: ₹5–15 for a single trip. Monthly passes available. Comfort: Standing room only during rush hour. Off-peak, you get a seat.

3. Express and Mail Trains

The backbone of Indian long-distance rail. Express trains stop at major stations (skipping smaller ones), while Mail trains stop at more stations. Together, they form the largest train category by number.

Who uses them: Everyone. Express trains serve all classes — General, Sleeper, 3AC, 2AC, and 1AC. Fare: Moderate. Delhi–Mumbai in Sleeper costs ₹500–600. Comfort: Varies by class. Sleeper is basic; 1AC is premium. Speed: 50–70 km/h average.

4. Superfast Trains

Express trains that maintain an average speed above 55 km/h. They get priority on the network, have fewer stops, and carry a small surcharge (₹30–75 depending on class).

How to identify: Train numbers starting with 12xxx. Examples: Tamil Nadu SF Express, Karnataka SF Express, Swarna Jayanti SF Express.

5. Jan Shatabdi Express

The budget version of Shatabdi — AC and non-AC chair car classes, designed for intercity day travel. Fares are 40–60% lower than Shatabdi. Meals are either not included or a basic snack.

Routes: Regional corridors like Delhi–Haridwar, Chennai–Mysuru, Pune–Kolhapur.

6. Shatabdi Express

Premium AC-only day train with chair car seating. Meals included. Designed for same-day return travel on 250–700 km routes. Top speed 150 km/h on the Bhopal Shatabdi.

Who uses them: Business travelers, day-trippers, tourists.

7. Rajdhani Express

Premium AC-only overnight sleeper train connecting state capitals to New Delhi. All meals included, bedding provided, highest priority on the network.

Who uses them: Everyone who can afford it. Rajdhani 3AC is the aspirational train for millions of Indian travelers.

8. Duronto Express

Non-stop AC (and non-AC) overnight trains between major cities. Faster than Rajdhani because it skips all intermediate stations.

9. Garib Rath Express

Budget AC train with 3AC coaches at 25–30% lower fares. No bedding provided. A stepping stone between Sleeper class and full-fare 3AC.

10. Humsafar Express

All-3AC train with upgraded coaches — side berth curtains, GPS displays, USB charging, bio-toilets. Runs on high-demand corridors.

11. Antyodaya Express

Fully unreserved Superfast train with LHB coaches. No reservation needed — buy a general ticket and board. Designed for budget travelers on busy migrant corridors.

12. Tejas Express

IRCTC-operated premium chair car train with entertainment screens, WiFi, dynamic pricing, and delay compensation. Currently runs on 2–3 routes.

13. Vande Bharat Express

India's semi-high-speed chair car train. Self-propelled (distributed power), 160 km/h top speed, modern interiors. Rapidly expanding to 40+ routes. Meals included.

14. Gatimaan Express

India's fastest conventional train at 160 km/h. Runs Delhi–Agra–Jhansi. Ideal for Taj Mahal day trips.

15. Double Decker (UDAY Express)

Two-level AC chair car train with higher passenger capacity. Limited routes due to infrastructure constraints. Fares are lower than standard AC chair car.

16. Sampark Kranti Express

State capital-connecting trains that run from New Delhi to various state capitals. Similar to Rajdhani but with more stops and lower fares.

17. Yuva Express

Discounted train targeting young travelers (18–45 years). Offers 60% of seats at discounted rates. Limited routes and availability.

18. Heritage/Toy Trains

Narrow-gauge trains running on historic mountain routes:

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (UNESCO World Heritage)


• Nilgiri Mountain Railway (UNESCO World Heritage)


• Kalka-Shimla Railway (UNESCO World Heritage)


• Matheran Hill Railway

These run at 10–20 km/h through scenic mountain terrain. Tourist attractions rather than practical transport.

19. Luxury Tourist Trains

Multi-day train journeys with hotel-like accommodation:

• Palace on Wheels (Rajasthan circuit, ~₹3–5 lakh per person)


• Maharajas' Express (multiple circuits, ~₹5–20 lakh per person)


• Golden Chariot (Karnataka/Goa circuit)


• Deccan Odyssey (Maharashtra/Goa circuit)

These are week-long packages including accommodation, meals, sightseeing, and entertainment.

Quick Reference Chart

Type	Speed	AC?	Reservation	Meals	Fare Level
Passenger	Slow	No	No	No	Lowest
Suburban	Fast (frequency)	No	No	No	Lowest
Express/Mail	Moderate	Mixed	Yes	No	Low
Superfast	Faster	Mixed	Yes	No	Low+
Jan Shatabdi	Fast	Mixed	Yes	Basic	Moderate
Garib Rath	Fast	Yes (3AC)	Yes	No	Moderate
Humsafar	Fast	Yes (3AC)	Yes	No	Moderate
Antyodaya	Fast	No	No	No	Lowest
Shatabdi	Fast	Yes	Yes	Yes	High
Rajdhani	Fast	Yes	Yes	Yes	High
Duronto	Fast	Mixed	Yes	Yes (AC)	High
Tejas	Fast	Yes	Yes	Yes	High+
Vande Bharat	Fastest	Yes	Yes	Yes	High
Heritage	Very slow	No	Some	No	Moderate
Luxury	Slow	Yes	Yes	Yes	Very High

Find schedules and availability for all train types at indianrail.app.