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INDIAN RAILWAYS EMPIRICAL PUBLICATIONS – RAILWAY TIMETABLES
Kolkata, June 24, 2023
In 1856, only three trains would run on the EIR route, the first train would go up to Hooghly, the second up to Pandooah and the third would run up to Raniganj. Train numbering had not made an entry in earlier time tables and trains would be simply called first train, second rain and third train! Surprisingly EIR was a pioneer in running time-tabled goods trains. In the very early days of railways, the Railway companies themselves published basic timetables, often limited to the services provided by the railway concerned. It fell to private publishers to compile and sell more comprehensive timetables. In Britain, Thomas Cook and George Bradshaw were the main timetable publishers.
Earlier time tables give information on much more train times. A calendar of fairs and festivals is included, encouraging travel to these events by train. Also included was a list of the dates on which various sections of the line were then opened.
As new editions of timetables were published frequently, movies, consumer products, and services were often advertised in them. Apart from that, a coloured bookmark was also used for advertisement. To keep costs low, paid commercial advertising was often included on the back cover and often on the inside as well. Subjects varied, but popular products were jewellery, watches, electrical goods and hotel accommodation.
“Newman’s Indian Bradshaw” was a popular timetable in India for many years which was replaced by Indian Railways’ “Trains at a Glance”.The Trains at A Glance-time table of Indian Railways has been one of the most sought-after publications in the country with a high readership. The time table, besides giving detailed information about routes and timings of important passenger trains including premium trains also encompasses a number of other information about rail travel such as reservation procedures, rules and regulations of travelling, passenger amenities on trains and in stations including catering, menu types and rates, and rail-based tourism.
IRCTC has been printing and publishing Trains at A Glance for Indian Railways since 2018. Besides, making the prestigious time table available at Railway station premises and reservation offices, the Trains at A Glance is made available at the doorsteps of the customers by offering an online booking facility through its ticketing and tourism websites of IRCTC.
After a pause of 3 years due to Covid, the Ministry of Railways is releasing the 43rd (OCTOBER 2022-June 2023) edition of Trains at a Glance for the customers which will be dedicated to the service of the nation on October 2022. This is the largest print edition yet, with 400-plus all-colour pages. Unlike most other countries, a printed national train time-table remains popular in India, covering one of the largest railway systems in the world.
Nowadays with the advent of the internet and mobile applications, the digital format of Time Table can be accessed from the official websites of different Zonal Railways.
