The train is free for all passengers.
Indian Railways: The history of Indian Railways is more than 160 years old as the first passenger train in India ran from Mumbai to Thane on April 16, 1853. This marked the beginning of India’s extensive railway network, which is now the fourth-largest rail network in the world. It manages a very heavy railway traffic and millions of passengers daily. The Indian Railways manages more than 7,308 stations that cater to about 13,000 trains daily carrying upwards of 20 million passengers. Some of the most popular and important trains run by Indian Railways include the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, Duronto Express, Vande Bharat Express, Garib Rath Express, Gatimaan Express, and Tejas Express.
Indian Railways is one of the biggest sources of revenue for the government, making it the backbone of the Indian economy.
When you travel by a train, you have to pay for the journey and if any passenger is caught without any ticket, he or she is penalised. Here we will tell you about one train in India that has been offering free service to its commuters for the last 75 years. This train offers free rides to all commuters and you don’t have to buy a ticket.
The train is Bhakra-Nangal train and it offers free rides over a 13-kilometer route between Nangal in Punjab and Bhakra in Himachal Pradesh. It has been operating since 1948 and was initially used to transport workers and materials for the Bhakra-Nangal Dam construction.
The train is free for all passengers, making it unique in India and potentially worldwide. It was originally used for construction and has become a part of India’s railway heritage. The train’s route offers picturesque views of the Sutlej River and Shivalik Hills. It promotes sustainable tourism and raises awareness about water management and renewable energy. The train was originally used to transport workers and materials for the construction of the Bhakra Dam.
The Bhakra-Nangal train departs from Nangal Railway Station daily at 7.05 AM and arrives in Bhakra at 8.20 AM. In its return journey, the train departs from Nangal at 3.05 PM, dropping passengers off at Bhakra Railway at 4.20 PM.