Indian railway network expansion under the British Raj (1853–1947)

1. East Indian Railway Company established in London

   Jun 1, 1845Labels: East Indian, London

   • EIR Co

2. Great Indian Peninsula Railway incorporated by UK act

   Aug 1, 1849Labels: Great Indian, UK Act

   • GIPR
   • UK Legislation

3. First passenger train runs Bombay to Thane

   Apr 16, 1853Labels: Bombay Thane, First passenger

   • GIPR
   • Mumbai Suburban

4. First passenger train in eastern India (Howrah–Hooghly)

   Aug 15, 1854Labels: East Indian, Howrah Hooghly

   • EIR Co
   • Howrah Barddhaman

5. Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway incorporated

   Jul 2, 1855Labels: BB&CI Railway, Bombay

   • Maharashtra Gaz
   • BB CI

6. Karachi–Kotri line opens to public traffic

   May 13, 1861Labels: Karachi Kotri, Sind

   • Scinde Railway
   • Karachi City

7. GIPR completes Bhor Ghat incline, linking Bombay and Pune

   Jan 1, 1862Labels: Bhor Ghat, GIPR

   • Mumbai Chennai line
   • GIPR

8. Howrah–Allahabad–Bombay cross-country line opens

   Jan 1, 1870Labels: Howrah Allahabad, Cross-country line

   • Howrah Prayagraj Mumbai
   • EIR Co

9. Victoria Terminus completed as GIPR headquarters station

   Jan 1, 1887Labels: Victoria Terminus, GIPR headquarters

   • CSMT
   • Britannica

10. Indian Railway Board Act formalizes Railway Board powers

    Mar 22, 1905Labels: Indian Railway, Railway Board

    • IR Board Act
    • IR Org

11. Separation Convention adopts separate railway finances

    Sep 20, 1924Labels: Separation Convention, Railway finances

    • IR Admin Finance
    • NDTV explainer

12. First electric suburban train runs in Bombay (VT–Kurla)

    Feb 3, 1925Labels: VT Kurla, Bombay suburban

    • Mumbai Suburban
    • CSMT

13. Government of India Act references Railway Board control

    Aug 2, 1935Labels: Government of, Railway Board

    • UK Legislation
    • GoI Act

14. Partition and independence split the railway system

    Aug 15, 1947Labels: Partition 1947, Railway division

    • Jammu Sialkot line
    • GoI Act