One of the most important facts in Indian railway history is that India's first passenger train ran on 16 April 1853.
The historic service travelled from Bombay, now Mumbai, to Thane over a distance of approximately 34 kilometres.
The train consisted of 14 coaches and carried around 400 passengers. It was operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
Although the journey was short compared with today's long-distance services, it marked the beginning of organised passenger rail transportation in India.
From this first 34-kilometre journey developed the enormous railway network that now connects cities, towns and regions throughout the country.