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TravelData21 encourages the use of rail systems for travel. They have a less negative impact on the environment than other means. They are often more likely to be a way to appreciate the scenery and places through which people travel.
The Indian Rail web site is the primary source for rail information throughout India. This site has information about the variety of trains and schedules that are available and offers reservation services.
The North East Frontier Railway web site has a very useful map of rail lines throughout India. It also has information about services and the scenic and historic places of interest near stations within its network. This railway serves the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal. It also acts as a railhead for Nepal and Bhutan and provides interchange facilities with Bangladesh Railway.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway operates in the UNESCO World Heritage Area in the northern area of West Bengal where it is linked to the North East Frontier Railway. The Matheran Light Railway (extension to the Mountain Railways of India) in the Raigad District in Maharashtra state is on a tentative list for World Heritage Status by UNESCO.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Supporters Association has information about this historic railway.
There are other rail networks for different zones in India. Web sites are available for some of these networks, but they are of varying quality.
The Southern Railway's network extends over a large area of the southern tip of India serving the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and part of Andhra Pradesh. It also has a reservation service.
The South Eastern Railway operates in Jharkhand and the southern area of West Bengal. Its web site has information about its services and places of interest as well as useful maps to assist with travel planning.
The North Eastern Railway has information about services, places of interest and other matters for its region. It operates in Uttar Pradesh.
The Northern Railway has Delhi as its hub and radiates to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh. The railway's web site has a useful maps of its network and information about its services to assist with travel planning.
The South East Central Railway has information about its services and a useful map of its network. This railway operates in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra.
The East Central Railway operates in Bihar and the northern area of West Bengal. Its web site has a map of its network and information about available services.
The South Western Railway has information about its services and a useful map on its web site to assist with travel planning. This system operates in the states of Karnataka, Goa and Tamil Nadu.
The East Coast Railway has information about its services, places of interest near its stations, and a very useful map on its web site to assist with travel planning. This system operates in the states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
The West Central Railway has information about its services, places of interest near its stations, and a map on its web site to assist with travel planning. This system operates in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Web sites are not available at this time for the Central, North Western, North Central, South Central, Eastern, and Western zones. In some cases, domain names have been purchased for unrelated businesses.
Web sites for metrorail systems are listed on their local pages.
The National Railway Museum web site is an excellent source of information about the extensive rail systems that have played an important role in India's recent history. The museum has exhibits of historic equipment and models of trains. It is one of Delhi's most popular attractions.
The Kalka Shimla Railway is a heritage railway. Its web site is under construction. The Kalka Shimla Railway is on a tentative list for World Heritage Status by UNESCO. It is almost entirely in Himachal Pradesh with the Kalka Terminus on the Haryana border.