Live Train Running Status
Real-time position, delay, and schedule information for Indian Railways trains
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| Station | Code | Day | Schedule Arrival | Schedule Departure | Actual Arrival | Actual Departure | Delay | Platform | Dist (km) |
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What you see when you check a train
When you look up a train on this page, you get a snapshot of its current position across the Indian Railways network. The information comes directly from the railway's operational systems. Here is what each piece of data means.
Every train in the Indian Railways system has a unique five digit train number and an official name. The number helps identify the train type, route, and railway zone. For example, trains starting with 1 are usually long distance express or superfast trains, while trains starting with 0 are specials or holiday specials.
This tells you where the train was at the time of the last update. The system reports the most recent station the train passed through or is currently stopped at. Stations are shown with their official station codes used by Indian Railways.
The schedule shows the time a train is supposed to arrive at and depart from each station. The actual times show what really happened. When these two differ, you see the delay. This distinction is important because a train can arrive late at one station but make up time later on the route.
The platform where the train is expected to arrive or has arrived. This is useful for knowing exactly where to stand when the train pulls in. Platform numbers can change close to arrival time, so checking live data is always a good idea.
For upcoming stations, the system calculates an ETA based on the train's current speed, distance to the next stop, and recent performance on that section of the route. This is an estimate and can change as the train progresses.
The full route shows all stations from origin to destination, with the train's current position highlighted. This helps you understand how far the train has traveled and how many stops remain.
The technology behind live train tracking
Indian Railways uses a system called the Real Time Train Information System (RTIS) to track train movements. This system was developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). RTIS devices are installed on locomotives and use satellite communication to transmit the train's location, speed, and direction to a central data center.
Before RTIS, train positions were reported manually by station masters at each stop along the route. This meant gaps in tracking between stations. RTIS changed that by providing mid section updates with a periodicity of roughly 30 seconds. The location data is automatically plotted on the control chart in the Control Office Application (COA) system, giving train controllers a live view of every RTIS enabled locomotive on the network without any manual intervention.
As of 2026, thousands of locomotives across Indian Railways have been fitted with RTIS devices. The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) manages the data and feeds it into passenger facing platforms like the National Train Enquiry System (NTES). When you check a train on this page, you are seeing data from this same satellite based tracking infrastructure.
The RTIS devices use ISRO's GSAT satellites which carry GAGAN payloads. GAGAN is the GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation system that improves the accuracy of GPS signals over the Indian region. This combination gives reliable positioning even in remote areas, hilly terrain, and dense forests where regular GPS signals can be weak.
Why you should always check live status
Many travelers confuse the printed railway timetable with live running information. They are not the same thing.
The train schedule is the planned timetable published by Indian Railways at the start of each season. It shows the intended arrival and departure times at every station along the route. The schedule assumes normal conditions and does not account for delays, operational changes, or last minute platform reassignments.
Live running status shows what the train is actually doing right now. It reflects reality on the ground, including delays caused by congestion, weather, signal failures, maintenance work, or other factors. Live data is updated continuously as the train moves through the network.
If you are planning to pick someone up from the station, always rely on live running status rather than the printed schedule. A train that is running on time can develop a delay later in the journey, and a delayed train can recover time before arrival.
Common reasons for train delays on Indian Railways
India has one of the busiest rail networks in the world with over 13,000 passenger trains and 11,000 freight trains running every day. Many trains share the same track sections, especially on high density corridors like Delhi Mumbai, Delhi Howrah, and Chennai Howrah. When a train is late, it can cause a cascading effect on other trains behind it.
The signaling system on Indian Railways is undergoing a major upgrade, but older sections still experience manual signaling, outages, or equipment failures. When signals stop working, trains have to be manually piloted through sections, which slows everything down.
Fog during winter months in North India is one of the biggest causes of delays. Trains are restricted to lower speeds during heavy fog for safety. Heavy rain, floods, and landslides, especially in hilly regions like the Western Ghats, Konkan Railway, and Northeast India, can also slow trains down.
Track maintenance, bridge repairs, and electrification work often require trains to run at reduced speeds through work zones. Indian Railways is aggressively electrifying and upgrading tracks across the network, which means temporary speed restrictions are common.
Changing locomotives, crew changes, water filling, and cleaning stops can take longer than scheduled. Some delays also happen because a train is held at a station to allow a higher priority train to pass. Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat trains typically get priority on the network, while other trains may be held to keep premium services on time.
Protest disruptions, animal crossings on tracks, signal theft, and trespassing incidents can all cause unplanned stops and delays.
Understanding data reliability
Live train tracking accuracy depends on the technology used. For RTIS equipped locomotives, the position is typically accurate within 10 to 30 meters and updates every 30 seconds. This is the most reliable source of tracking data on Indian Railways.
For trains that do not yet have RTIS installed, the system falls back on station level reporting. This means the train's position is only updated when it passes a station where the station master logs the arrival and departure. In these cases, there can be gaps of 30 to 60 minutes between updates, especially on longer sections between stations.
The accuracy of the ETA also varies. For the next one or two stations, the ETA is usually quite reliable because it is based on the train's recent speed and known distances. For stations further down the line, the ETA becomes less certain because conditions can change. A train that is running 30 minutes late at one point might recover 10 minutes of that delay before reaching the next station, or it could lose more time.
Our tool displays the data exactly as received from Indian Railways systems. We do not modify or guess the train's position. If the system shows a delay, it is based on the difference between the actual and scheduled times reported by the railway's own tracking infrastructure.
The fastest way to look up a train
Every train operated by Indian Railways has a unique five digit number. This is the fastest way to look up a train. Enter the number in the search box above and the system will pull up the current running details along with the full route.
Train numbers follow a pattern. Numbers in the 10000 to 19999 range are usually long distance express and superfast trains. Numbers starting with 2 are often special trains or holiday specials. The 30000 and 40000 series are mostly suburban trains for cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi. The 50000 series is used for passenger trains, and 60000 and above are mostly freight and goods trains.
If you know the train number, this is the most direct way to check where the train is and how late it is running.
When you don't remember the number
Not everyone remembers the train number. You can also search using the train name. Type the name of the train, or even part of the name, and the system will show matching trains for you to select from.
For example, typing "Shatabdi" will return all Shatabdi Express trains running on different routes. You can then pick the one that matches your journey. This is especially useful for popular named trains like Vande Bharat Express, Rajdhani Express, or Humsafar Express where you know the name but not the number.
Understanding different train types
India's flagship semi high speed train with speeds up to 160 kmph. These are trainset units with no separate locomotive. They offer AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes. Vande Bharat trains run on medium distance routes and are known for faster acceleration, automatic doors, GPS based passenger information, and onboard infotainment. As of 2026, over 160 Vande Bharat services operate across the network, including the newly introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper trains.
Fully air conditioned long distance trains connecting state capitals and major cities to New Delhi. Rajdhani trains offer 1st AC, 2nd AC, and 3rd AC classes. Meals are included in the ticket fare. These trains get high priority on the network and have limited stops.
Day running trains that start and complete their journey on the same day. They connect metro cities with nearby important destinations. Shatabdi trains offer AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car classes. They do not have sleeper berths because the journey is completed within daylight hours.
A more affordable version of the Shatabdi Express designed for common travelers. These trains have both AC and non AC classes. They follow the same day train model as the Shatabdi.
Non stop long distance trains that connect major cities with minimal intermediate stops. Duronto trains are fully air conditioned and designed for faster point to point travel. They only stop at 2 or 3 stations along the route for operational reasons.
Fully air conditioned 3 tier AC trains with modern amenities including GPS based passenger information systems, LED screens, and improved coach interiors. These trains are designed to offer better comfort at reasonable fares.
Semi high speed trains with premium amenities including tea and coffee vending machines, snack tables, LCD screens, and Wi Fi in some services. Tejas trains run at speeds up to 130 kmph on select routes.
Superfast express trains connecting various cities to New Delhi or state capitals. The name means "Revolution of Connectivity." These trains have both AC and Sleeper classes.
Affordable AC trains designed to make air conditioned travel accessible to more people. Garib Rath trains have mostly 3 tier AC coaches with higher seating capacity per coach compared to regular trains.
A newer category of trains with non AC sleeper coaches designed for long distance budget travel. These trains feature modern amenities like improved seating, better lighting, and enhanced safety features.
Fully unreserved superfast trains for long distance travel. These trains are designed for passengers who travel without reservation and offer improved facilities compared to regular unreserved services.
Trains with two levels of passenger accommodation. They are used on high density daytime routes where more seating capacity is needed. Double Decker trains offer AC Chair Car on the upper and lower decks.
Trains designed to connect two cities with a fast, limited stop service. They usually run during the day and cover distances of 200 to 500 kilometers.
Long distance express trains named after Swami Vivekananda. These trains cover some of the longest routes on Indian Railways, including the famous Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari route.
Superfast trains named after Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya. These trains offer modern coach interiors with improved lighting, bio toilets, and better passenger amenities.
You can check the live status of any of these trains using the search tool at the top of this page. If you are looking for a specific category, enter the train name or number to see its current position, delay, platform, and estimated arrival times.
Details shown in the route table
When you look up a train, the system displays a table showing every station on the route from origin to destination. For each station, you can see the following details.
The full name of the railway station along with its official Indian Railways station code. Station codes are three or four letter abbreviations used across the railway network.
The planned times from the official timetable.
The real times recorded by the railway's tracking system. For stations the train has already passed, this shows the exact time the train arrived and left. For upcoming stations, this may show estimates.
The difference between the scheduled and actual times. A positive number means the train is running late. A zero or negative number means the train is on time or early.
The platform where the train arrives. This can change close to arrival, so checking the live platform number is recommended if you are boarding or meeting someone.
The distance from the origin station to each stop. This helps you track how far the train has traveled and how much distance remains to your destination.
For long distance trains that run for more than one day, the system shows which day of the journey each station falls on. This is useful for trains like Rajdhani Express, Vivek Express, or long distance Duronto services that travel overnight.
Common questions answered
Where the data comes from
This tool pulls live data directly from Indian Railways through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and related official feeds. We do not generate or modify the data. Every piece of information you see, including arrival times, departure times, delays, platform numbers, and route information, comes from the railway's own operational tracking systems.
The tool is designed to help passengers, family members waiting at stations, and frequent travelers get accurate, up to date information about any train on the Indian Railways network. Whether you are checking a Vande Bharat Express for a business trip, tracking a Rajdhani to pick up family, or monitoring a Humsafar Express for a long journey, the same reliable data source powers every search.
Bookmark this page for quick access whenever you need to know where a train is, how late it is running, and when it will reach your station.