Railway Services

The Indian railway system spanning a length of over 62.3 thousand kilometers is the largest in Asia and ranks second in the world. It made a modest beginning in April 1853, with the first train from Bombay to Thane. The range of operations of the Indian Railways is quite diverse and wide. The Indian Railway network comprises of nine zones, directly controlled by the Railway Board, which is at the helm of all operations. A General Manager heads each zone.

The Indian Railways, today, provide the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India. It is one of the largest employers in the world providing employment to 1.54 million people. The country has a total of 7,031 stations, 7,817 locomotives, 5,321 passenger vehicles, 4,904 other coaching vehicles and 2,28,170 wagons as on 31st March 2004. The Indian railways run around 11,000 trains everyday, 7000 of which are passenger trains.

Recruitment to the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) and the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) is made through the performance in Civil Services Examination (earlier known as the Indian Administrative Service, etc., Examination) and that of the Indian Railway Services of Engineers (IRSE), Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) and Indian Railway Service Stores (IRSS) is made on the basis of the Combined Engineering Services Examination.

For recruitment to the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, there is a dual method. Approximately, 50 per cent of the candidates are recruited through the Combined Engineering Services Examination. The remaining 50 per cent are recruited as the Special Class Railway Apprentices for which U.P.S.C. conducts a separate competitive examination every year.

The Railway Recruitment Boards located at different parts of the country also recruit individuals for various positions viz. TTC, Asst. Station Masters, Goods Guards etc. Apart from these positions RRBs also recruit teachers, physical instructors, doctors in various departments, nurses and paramedical personnel through countrywide written tests.