Express trains in India

Mail/Express trains are Regular Express rail service of India. Express trains make small number of stops, unlike Passenger/Local train. In some cases, trains run express where there is overlapping local train service available, and run local at the tail ends of the line, where there is no supplemental local service. Because of their limited stops, these trains are able to obtain the highest speeds of any trains in India.

An express train is one where the average speed, excluding halts, is greater than 36 km/h. Including halts speed may sometimes fall into the region of around 20 km/h, for express trains.

The Duronto Express trains introduced in 2009 (which run between major cities without any intermediate halts) are projected to be the fastest train in India when new services are introduced with a higher speed limit of 120-130 km/h. Despite being limited to a lower speed limit, they take as much time as a Rajdhani or Shatabdi on the same route, courtesy the non-stop nature of their journey (see Tracks and Speed sections). Rajdhani Express which connects New Delhi with the state capitals in India was introduced in 1969, travels at speeds up to 130 km/h.

Indian railways run non-reserved trai as have unreserved/general compartment on Express/Mail trains.

Indian railways run non reserved trains under the brand Jan Sadharan Express. These trains have all Unreserved/General coaches. A new series of Antyodaya Express is also proposed in rail budget 2016 - 2017 which will operate on peak routes having more rush. These trains will have all non reserved coaches.

The following Jan Sadharan Express run in India:

The following trains are proposed under Antyodaya brand:

Apart from Antyodaya and Jan Sadharan trains, unreserved/general coaches are non reserved coaches on normal Express / Mail. The restriction on such coaches is for 24 hours journey. A new series of Deen Dayalu coaches has also been proposed in rail budget 2016 - 2017 for long distance trains. The Deen Dayalu coaches will be more comfortable than the old coaches

Like elsewhere, railways in India compete with air travel and road transport. The advantages of travelling by air between cities are the greater frequency of flights, and shorter travel time. Rail travel, with few exceptions (if any), offers lower cost.

Rail transport also faces competition from the use of roads improved under National Highways Development Project. People owning cars can, for short distances, benefit in terms of shorter travel time, given the lack of commute to and from a railway station at both ends of a journey. This is also balanced against the need to maintain one's vehicle and its security during such trips.

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