Railway GK Questions and Answers are important for candidates preparing for RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, RRB ALP, RRB Technician, RPF and other railway examinations. This practice set covers Indian Railways history, railway zones and headquarters, gauges, infrastructure, trains, safety systems, railway organisations and important terminology.
Each MCQ includes the correct answer and a specific explanation so you can learn the fact while practising.
Q1. What was the date of India’s first passenger train journey?
A. 15 August 1857
B. 16 April 1853
C. 26 January 1850
D. 1 July 1856
View Answer
India’s first passenger train ran on 16 April 1853, marking the beginning of passenger railway services in India.
Q2. Between which two places did India’s first passenger train run?
A. Mumbai and Pune
B. Bori Bunder and Thane
C. Howrah and Hooghly
D. Chennai and Arcot
View Answer
The first passenger train covered the route from Bori Bunder in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane.
Q3. How many coaches were hauled by the first passenger train in India?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 18
View Answer
The inaugural passenger train of 1853 consisted of 14 coaches and carried passengers from Bori Bunder to Thane.
Q4. How many locomotives hauled India’s first passenger train?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
View Answer
Three steam locomotives named Sahib, Sindh and Sultan hauled the first passenger train.
Q5. Which locomotive was one of the three engines used for India’s first passenger train?
A. Sultan
B. Deccan
C. Maharaja
D. Vijay
View Answer
Sultan was one of the three locomotives—Sahib, Sindh and Sultan—that hauled the first passenger train.
Q6. Which ministry is responsible for Indian Railways?
A. Ministry of Transport
B. Ministry of Railways
C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
D. Ministry of Home Affairs
View Answer
Indian Railways functions under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Q7. Where is the headquarters of the Railway Board located?
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. Rail Bhavan, New Delhi
D. Chennai
View Answer
The Railway Board, the apex administrative body of Indian Railways, is headquartered at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi.
Q8. What is the apex administrative body of Indian Railways?
A. RDSO
B. Railway Board
C. IRCTC
D. CRIS
View Answer
The Railway Board is the apex body responsible for policy, administration and overall coordination of Indian Railways.
Q9. What does RDSO stand for?
A. Railway Design and Safety Organisation
B. Research Designs and Standards Organisation
C. Railway Development Standards Office
D. Research and Development Safety Organisation
View Answer
RDSO is the technical research and standards organisation of Indian Railways.
Q10. Where is the headquarters of RDSO?
A. Lucknow
B. Jaipur
C. Bhopal
D. New Delhi
View Answer
RDSO is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Q11. What does IRCTC stand for?
A. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
B. Indian Rail Coach and Travel Corporation
C. Indian Railway Commercial and Tourism Company
D. Indian Rail Catering and Ticketing Corporation
View Answer
IRCTC stands for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and provides railway-related catering, tourism and ticketing services.
Q12. Which organisation operates the IRCTC online railway ticketing platform?
A. RDSO
B. IRCTC
C. RPF
D. CORE
View Answer
IRCTC operates the online railway ticketing service and also provides catering and tourism services.
Q13. What does CRIS stand for?
A. Centre for Railway Information Systems
B. Central Railway Information Service
C. Computerised Railway Information Service
D. Centre for Rail Infrastructure Systems
View Answer
CRIS develops and maintains information technology systems used by Indian Railways.
Q14. What is the primary role of CRIS?
A. Railway policing
B. Developing railway IT systems
C. Manufacturing locomotives
D. Constructing bridges only
View Answer
CRIS is responsible for designing, developing and maintaining information systems for Indian Railways.
Q15. What does RPF stand for?
A. Railway Protection Force
B. Railway Police Force
C. Railway Passenger Force
D. Railway Protection Federation
View Answer
RPF stands for Railway Protection Force, which is a security force under the Ministry of Railways.
Q16. Which police force is responsible for railway policing under state governments?
A. RPF
B. GRP
C. CRPF
D. BSF
View Answer
Government Railway Police (GRP) is part of the state police and handles policing and investigation of railway-related crimes.
Q17. Which railway zone has its headquarters in New Delhi?
A. Northern Railway
B. North Central Railway
C. North Western Railway
D. Eastern Railway
View Answer
Northern Railway has its headquarters at New Delhi.
Q18. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Churchgate, Mumbai?
A. Central Railway
B. Western Railway
C. Konkan Railway
D. West Central Railway
View Answer
Western Railway is headquartered at Churchgate in Mumbai.
Q19. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai?
A. Central Railway
B. Western Railway
C. Southern Railway
D. South Central Railway
View Answer
Central Railway is headquartered in Mumbai, with its headquarters at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
Q20. Which railway zone has its headquarters in Kolkata?
A. Eastern Railway
B. Northern Railway
C. Southern Railway
D. North Eastern Railway
View Answer
Eastern Railway is headquartered at Kolkata.
Q21. Which railway zone has its headquarters in Chennai?
A. Southern Railway
B. South Western Railway
C. South Central Railway
D. East Coast Railway
View Answer
Southern Railway has its headquarters at Chennai.
Q22. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Secunderabad?
A. South Central Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. South Western Railway
D. Central Railway
View Answer
South Central Railway is headquartered at Secunderabad in Telangana.
Q23. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Garden Reach, Kolkata?
A. Eastern Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. East Central Railway
D. East Coast Railway
View Answer
South Eastern Railway has its headquarters at Garden Reach in Kolkata.
Q24. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Gorakhpur?
A. North Eastern Railway
B. Northeast Frontier Railway
C. North Central Railway
D. Northern Railway
View Answer
North Eastern Railway is headquartered at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Q25. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Prayagraj?
A. North Central Railway
B. Northern Railway
C. North Eastern Railway
D. West Central Railway
View Answer
North Central Railway has its headquarters at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Q26. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Guwahati?
A. Northeast Frontier Railway
B. North Eastern Railway
C. East Coast Railway
D. Eastern Railway
View Answer
Northeast Frontier Railway is headquartered at Maligaon, Guwahati.
Q27. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Hajipur?
A. East Central Railway
B. Eastern Railway
C. East Coast Railway
D. North Eastern Railway
View Answer
East Central Railway has its headquarters at Hajipur in Bihar.
Q28. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Bhubaneswar?
A. East Coast Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. Eastern Railway
D. East Central Railway
View Answer
East Coast Railway is headquartered at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Q29. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Jabalpur?
A. West Central Railway
B. Western Railway
C. Central Railway
D. North Central Railway
View Answer
West Central Railway has its headquarters at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Q30. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Jaipur?
A. North Western Railway
B. Northern Railway
C. North Central Railway
D. West Central Railway
View Answer
North Western Railway is headquartered at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Q31. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Bilaspur?
A. South East Central Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. East Coast Railway
D. Central Railway
View Answer
South East Central Railway has its headquarters at Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Q32. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Hubballi?
A. South Western Railway
B. Southern Railway
C. South Central Railway
D. West Central Railway
View Answer
South Western Railway is headquartered at Hubballi in Karnataka.
Q33. Jaipur is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. North Western Railway
B. West Central Railway
C. North Central Railway
D. Western Railway
View Answer
North Western Railway has its headquarters at Jaipur.
Q34. Bilaspur is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. South East Central Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. East Central Railway
D. East Coast Railway
View Answer
South East Central Railway has its headquarters at Bilaspur.
Q35. Jabalpur is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. West Central Railway
B. Central Railway
C. North Central Railway
D. Western Railway
View Answer
West Central Railway has its headquarters at Jabalpur.
Q36. Hajipur is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. East Central Railway
B. Eastern Railway
C. East Coast Railway
D. North Eastern Railway
View Answer
East Central Railway has its headquarters at Hajipur.
Q37. Bhubaneswar is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. East Coast Railway
B. South Eastern Railway
C. Eastern Railway
D. East Central Railway
View Answer
East Coast Railway has its headquarters at Bhubaneswar.
Q38. Gorakhpur is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. North Eastern Railway
B. Northern Railway
C. North Central Railway
D. Northeast Frontier Railway
View Answer
North Eastern Railway has its headquarters at Gorakhpur.
Q39. Maligaon is associated with the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. Northeast Frontier Railway
B. North Eastern Railway
C. Eastern Railway
D. East Central Railway
View Answer
Northeast Frontier Railway’s headquarters are located at Maligaon in Guwahati.
Q40. Prayagraj is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. North Central Railway
B. Northern Railway
C. North Eastern Railway
D. West Central Railway
View Answer
North Central Railway has its headquarters at Prayagraj.
Q41. Hubballi is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. South Western Railway
B. Southern Railway
C. South Central Railway
D. Central Railway
View Answer
South Western Railway has its headquarters at Hubballi.
Q42. Secunderabad is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. South Central Railway
B. South Western Railway
C. Southern Railway
D. Central Railway
View Answer
South Central Railway has its headquarters at Secunderabad.
Q43. Churchgate is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. Western Railway
B. Central Railway
C. West Central Railway
D. Konkan Railway
View Answer
Western Railway has its headquarters at Churchgate in Mumbai.
Q44. Garden Reach is the headquarters of which railway zone?
A. South Eastern Railway
B. Eastern Railway
C. East Central Railway
D. East Coast Railway
View Answer
South Eastern Railway has its headquarters at Garden Reach in Kolkata.
Q45. What is the width of broad gauge used extensively by Indian Railways?
A. 1000 mm
B. 1435 mm
C. 1676 mm
D. 762 mm
View Answer
Indian broad gauge is 1676 mm wide, also known as 5 feet 6 inches.
Q46. What is the width of standard gauge?
A. 1000 mm
B. 1067 mm
C. 1435 mm
D. 1676 mm
View Answer
Standard gauge has a rail spacing of 1435 mm.
Q47. What is the width of metre gauge?
A. 762 mm
B. 1000 mm
C. 1067 mm
D. 1435 mm
View Answer
Metre gauge has a rail spacing of exactly 1000 mm.
Q48. Which gauge is predominant on the Indian Railways network?
A. Narrow gauge
B. Metre gauge
C. Broad gauge
D. Standard gauge
View Answer
Broad gauge is the predominant railway gauge in India.
Q49. What does railway gauge refer to?
A. Height of a locomotive
B. Distance between the inner faces of two rails
C. Length of a platform
D. Distance between stations
View Answer
Railway gauge is the distance between the inner faces of the two rails of a track.
Q50. What is gauge conversion?
A. Changing the engine type
B. Changing the track gauge
C. Increasing train speed
D. Changing station codes
View Answer
Gauge conversion means altering an existing railway track from one gauge to another.
Q51. Which Indian Railways programme aimed to bring different gauges to a common broad gauge?
A. Project Unigauge
B. Project Kavach
C. Project Vande
D. Project Gati
View Answer
Project Unigauge was launched to progressively convert different railway gauges to broad gauge.
Q52. What is the main function of sleepers in railway tracks?
A. Provide passenger seating
B. Maintain rail spacing and transfer load to ballast
C. Generate electricity
D. Control signals
View Answer
Sleepers support the rails, maintain the required gauge and distribute rail loads to the ballast.
Q53. What is the main purpose of ballast in a railway track?
A. Provide lighting
B. Support sleepers and provide drainage and stability
C. Operate signals
D. Power locomotives
View Answer
Ballast supports sleepers, helps distribute loads, provides drainage and keeps the track stable.
Q54. Which material is commonly used as railway ballast?
A. Crushed stone
B. Wood
C. Plastic
D. Glass
View Answer
Hard, angular crushed stone is commonly used as ballast because it provides stability and drainage.
Q55. What is a point and crossing in railway terminology?
A. A station building
B. An arrangement that allows trains to move between tracks
C. A railway bridge
D. A ticket counter
View Answer
Points and crossings form track arrangements that enable railway vehicles to transfer from one track to another.
Q56. What is a level crossing?
A. A crossing of two railway tracks only
B. A road and railway crossing at the same level
C. A bridge over a railway
D. An underground railway passage
View Answer
A level crossing is a location where a road or path crosses a railway track at approximately the same level.
Q57. Where is the Chenab Rail Bridge located?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Rajasthan
C. Kerala
D. West Bengal
View Answer
The Chenab Rail Bridge spans the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Q58. The Pamban Bridge connects mainland India with which island?
A. Majuli
B. Rameswaram Island
C. Diu
D. Andaman Island
View Answer
The Pamban Bridge connects mainland India with Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu.
Q59. Bogibeel Bridge is built over which river?
A. Ganga
B. Brahmaputra
C. Yamuna
D. Godavari
View Answer
Bogibeel Bridge crosses the Brahmaputra River in Assam and carries both road and rail traffic.
Q60. Konkan Railway mainly runs along which region of India?
A. Eastern coast
B. Western coast
C. Northern plains
D. Northeastern hills
View Answer
Konkan Railway runs along the western coast through the Konkan region, connecting Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
Q61. Where is the headquarters of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited?
A. Belapur, Navi Mumbai
B. Pune
C. Panaji
D. Mangaluru
View Answer
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited has its corporate headquarters at Belapur in Navi Mumbai.
Q62. Where is Integral Coach Factory (ICF) located?
A. Perambur, Chennai
B. Kapurthala
C. Chittaranjan
D. Varanasi
View Answer
Integral Coach Factory is located at Perambur in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Q63. What does ICF stand for in Indian Railways?
A. Indian Coach Factory
B. Integral Coach Factory
C. International Coach Facility
D. Indian Carriage Foundry
View Answer
ICF stands for Integral Coach Factory, a major railway coach manufacturing unit in Chennai.
Q64. Where is Rail Coach Factory (RCF) located?
A. Kapurthala
B. Jaipur
C. Lucknow
D. Jabalpur
View Answer
Rail Coach Factory is located at Kapurthala in Punjab.
Q65. Where is the Modern Coach Factory located?
A. Rae Bareli
B. Patna
C. Bhopal
D. Nagpur
View Answer
Modern Coach Factory is located at Lalganj near Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Q66. Where is Chittaranjan Locomotive Works located?
A. West Bengal
B. Bihar
C. Odisha
D. Jharkhand
View Answer
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is located at Chittaranjan in West Bengal.
Q67. What is the present name of Diesel Locomotive Works at Varanasi?
A. Banaras Locomotive Works
B. Bharat Locomotive Works
C. Varanasi Rail Works
D. Eastern Locomotive Works
View Answer
Diesel Locomotive Works at Varanasi was renamed Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW).
Q68. What does BLW stand for?
A. Banaras Locomotive Works
B. Bharat Locomotive Workshop
C. Bengal Locomotive Works
D. Banaras Railway Works
View Answer
BLW stands for Banaras Locomotive Works, located in Varanasi.
Q69. Where is Rail Wheel Factory located?
A. Yelahanka, Bengaluru
B. Perambur, Chennai
C. Kapurthala
D. Chittaranjan
View Answer
Rail Wheel Factory is located at Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Q70. Where is the historic Jamalpur Railway Workshop located?
A. Bihar
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Rajasthan
View Answer
Jamalpur Railway Workshop is located in Jamalpur, Bihar.
Q71. In which year was the Jamalpur Railway Workshop established?
A. 1853
B. 1862
C. 1875
D. 1901
View Answer
The Jamalpur Railway Workshop was established in 1862 and became an important railway workshop in India.
Q72. What type of train is Vande Bharat Express?
A. Luxury tourist train
B. Indigenous semi-high-speed train
C. Freight-only train
D. Heritage steam train
View Answer
Vande Bharat Express is an indigenous semi-high-speed electric train service developed for faster intercity travel.
Q73. In which year was the first Rajdhani Express introduced?
A. 1965
B. 1969
C. 1975
D. 1980
View Answer
The first Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969.
Q74. The first Rajdhani Express connected New Delhi with which city?
A. Mumbai
B. Chennai
C. Howrah
D. Amritsar
View Answer
The first Rajdhani Express began service between New Delhi and Howrah in 1969.
Q75. In which year was the Shatabdi Express introduced?
A. 1984
B. 1988
C. 1991
D. 1995
View Answer
The Shatabdi Express was introduced in 1988 as a fast intercity day train.
Q76. The Shatabdi Express was introduced to commemorate the birth centenary of which leader?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Sardar Patel
D. Subhas Chandra Bose
View Answer
The Shatabdi Express was introduced in 1988, the birth centenary year of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Q77. What is the main feature associated with Garib Rath trains?
A. Only sleeper coaches
B. Affordable air-conditioned travel
C. Luxury tourism
D. Only freight service
View Answer
Garib Rath trains were introduced to provide air-conditioned travel at relatively lower fares.
Q78. What is the main purpose of Bharat Gaurav trains?
A. Freight transport
B. Theme-based tourism
C. Suburban commuting
D. Track inspection
View Answer
Bharat Gaurav trains are designed for theme-based tourist journeys showcasing India’s cultural and historical destinations.
Q79. What is Kavach in Indian Railways?
A. A ticketing app
B. An automatic train protection system
C. A type of locomotive
D. A railway bridge
View Answer
Kavach is an indigenous automatic train protection system designed to enhance railway safety.
Q80. What is a major purpose of the Kavach system?
A. Increase platform length
B. Help prevent train collisions and unsafe movements
C. Provide catering
D. Manufacture coaches
View Answer
Kavach can assist in preventing collisions and unsafe train movements by automatically applying brakes in specified situations.
Q81. What is a pantograph used for on an electric locomotive?
A. Cooling the engine
B. Collecting electrical power from overhead equipment
C. Coupling coaches
D. Controlling doors
View Answer
A pantograph maintains contact with the overhead electric wire and transfers electrical power to the locomotive.
Q82. What is an overhead catenary system?
A. A signalling cabin
B. An overhead electrical supply system for electric trains
C. A railway ticketing system
D. A platform shelter
View Answer
The overhead catenary supplies electrical power to electric locomotives and trainsets through the pantograph.
Q83. What is a locomotive?
A. A passenger ticket
B. A railway vehicle that provides traction
C. A platform
D. A signal post
View Answer
A locomotive is a powered railway vehicle used to pull or propel coaches and wagons.
Q84. What is a railway coach?
A. A track component
B. A passenger-carrying railway vehicle
C. A signal
D. A bridge component
View Answer
A coach is a railway vehicle designed primarily for carrying passengers.
Q85. What is a railway wagon?
A. A passenger coach
B. A freight-carrying railway vehicle
C. A locomotive cab
D. A station building
View Answer
A wagon is a railway vehicle designed to carry goods or other freight.
Q86. What is a bogie?
A. A railway station
B. A wheeled underframe assembly supporting a coach or wagon
C. A signalling device
D. A type of ticket
View Answer
A bogie is a wheel-and-axle assembly mounted beneath a coach or wagon that supports the vehicle and allows it to negotiate curves.
Q87. What is the main purpose of a railway coupler?
A. Provide lighting
B. Connect railway vehicles together
C. Measure speed
D. Operate signals
View Answer
A coupler connects coaches, wagons or locomotives so they can operate as a train.
Q88. What is the main function of buffers on railway coaches?
A. Generate electricity
B. Absorb shocks between coupled vehicles
C. Increase track gauge
D. Control signals
View Answer
Buffers help absorb and cushion longitudinal impacts between railway vehicles.
Q89. Which railway station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A. New Delhi Railway Station
B. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
C. Howrah Junction
D. Bhopal Junction
View Answer
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic architecture.
Q90. What is the station code of New Delhi railway station?
A. NDLS
B. NDEL
C. NEW
D. DEL
View Answer
NDLS is the commonly used Indian Railways station code for New Delhi railway station.
Q91. What is the station code of Howrah Junction?
A. HWH
B. HWHR
C. HOW
D. HRA
View Answer
HWH is the Indian Railways station code for Howrah Junction.
Q92. What is the station code of Chennai Central?
A. MAS
B. MMA
C. CEN
D. CHC
View Answer
MAS is the Indian Railways station code associated with Chennai Central.
Q93. What is a rake in railway terminology?
A. A railway signal
B. A complete formation of coupled coaches or wagons
C. A type of locomotive fuel
D. A platform ticket
View Answer
A rake refers to a complete set or formation of railway vehicles coupled together for operation.
Q94. What is a turnout in railway terminology?
A. A railway timetable
B. A track arrangement that allows movement from one track to another
C. A type of coach
D. A signal lamp
View Answer
A turnout uses points and related track components to guide a train from one track to another.
Q95. What is a railway embankment?
A. A raised earthwork supporting a railway track
B. A type of locomotive
C. A station platform
D. An electric wire
View Answer
An embankment is a raised structure, usually made from earth or other suitable material, on which a railway track is constructed.
Q96. Which train was introduced as a long-distance service designed to reduce travel time with limited commercial halts?
A. Duronto Express
B. Passenger Express
C. Jan Shatabdi
D. Garib Rath
View Answer
Duronto Express services were introduced as long-distance trains intended to provide faster travel with relatively fewer commercial stoppages.
Q97. Which railway zone has its headquarters at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus?
A. Central Railway
B. Western Railway
C. Konkan Railway
D. South Central Railway
View Answer
Central Railway is headquartered in Mumbai, with its headquarters at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
Q98. What is the primary purpose of a railway signal?
A. To sell tickets
B. To control train movements safely
C. To clean coaches
D. To measure platform length
View Answer
Railway signals communicate movement instructions and restrictions to train drivers, helping trains operate safely.
Q99. What is a railway platform primarily used for?
A. Storing locomotives permanently
B. Boarding and alighting passengers
C. Generating traction power
D. Changing railway gauge
View Answer
A railway platform provides a safe area alongside the track where passengers can board and leave trains.
Q100. What is a railway timetable?
A. A list of railway employees
B. A schedule showing train timings and related operating information
C. A map of railway coaches
D. A locomotive maintenance manual
View Answer
A railway timetable provides scheduled information such as train arrival, departure and route details.
Conclusion: These 100 Railway GK MCQs provide focused practice on important facts useful for railway and other government competitive examinations. Revise the explanations after attempting the questions and revisit topics where you make mistakes.