how many railway zones are there in india
Zones and divisions of Indian Railways The 18 zones and the 68 divisions are listed below:[2][3]
Rail transport in India The first passenger train in India ran between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thane on 16 April 1853. The 14-carriage train was hauled by three steam locomotives: Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. It could carry 400 people and ran on a line of 34 kilometres (21 mi) built and operated by GIPR.[7][8] This line was built in 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, which became the standard for railways in the country. In Eastern India, the first passenger railway train ran from Howrah (near Calcutta) to Hoogly on 15 August 1854. The 39-kilometre (24 mi) line was built and operated by EIR.[9] In May 1854 the Bombay–Thane line was extended to Kalyan by building India's first railway bridge, the Dapoorie viaduct, over Ulhas river.[10] The line was extended to Khopoli in 1855. In August 1855, EIR Express and Fairy Queen steam locomotives started hauling trains.[11] The first passenger train in South India ran from Royapuram and Veyasarapady (Madras) to Wallajah Road (Arcot) on 1 July 1856 on a 97-kilometre (60 mi) line built and operated by Madras Railway.[12]