The Indian Railways caters to more than 23 million passengers daily across the country including all the routes. To make the offered services effective, Indian Railways has divided its operations into various Zones.

At present, Indian Railways is divided into 18 different Zones and the zones are sub-divided into 70 Divisions.

Zones of Indian Railways

In the Indian Railways system, there exists a comprehensive network of 18 distinct zones. These zones play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of the entire railway infrastructure within their respective designated regions. The responsibilities of the Indian railway zones encompass a wide range of operations, including the effective management and coordination of trains, stations, tracks, and various other associated activities. 

Central Railway Zone (CR)

Formed on November 5, 1951, the Central Railway (CR) zone was once the largest railway zone in India in terms of area, track mileage, and staff. It covered significant parts of Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh. However, in April 2003, these areas were separated to create the new West Central Railway zone. The headquarters of the Central Railway zone is located in Mumbai, specifically at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.

Konkan Railway Zone (KR)

On January 26, 1998, the inaugural journey marked the completion of the Konkan Railway track. This railway line spans 756.25 km (469.91 mi), linking the states of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. The headquarters of this zone is situated in Navi Mumbai, overseeing a network of 67 railway stations.

Northern Railway Zone (NR)

The Northern Railway zone was established on April 14, 1952, serving key regions of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab states. The zone's headquarters is located at Baroda House in Delhi.

North Central Railway Zone (NCR)

The North Central Railway was established on April 1, 2003, encompassing a significant portion of North Central India. It serves the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana. The headquarters of this railway zone is located in Prayagraj.

North Eastern Railway Zone (NER)

The North Eastern Railway was established on April 14, 1952. On February 27, 1953, the Cawnpore–Barabanki Railway became a part of the North Eastern Railway. Subsequently, on January 15, 1958, the North Eastern Railway was divided into two separate railway zones. The headquarters of the North Eastern Railway zone is situated in Gorakhpur.

Northeast Frontier Railway Zone (NFR)

On January 15, 1958, the Northeast Frontier Railway was established, taking on the responsibility of operating and expanding the rail network across the Northeastern states, along with certain districts in eastern Bihar and northern West Bengal. The headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone is located in Maligaon, Guwahati.

North Western Railway Zone (NWR)

Established on October 1, 2002, this railway zone spans over 5,761 kilometres (3,580 mi) across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. The North Western Railway (NWR) operates the Thar Express, an international rail service connecting Jodhpur to Karachi. It plays a crucial role in facilitating the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project, thanks to the 1,500-kilometer-long Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The headquarters of the North Western Railway is situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Eastern Railway Zone (ER)

On April 14, 1952, the Eastern Railway was established through the amalgamation of three lower divisions of the East Indian Railway: Howrah, Asansol, and Danapur. The Eastern Railway manages two of the largest rail complexes in the country, namely Howrah Junction and the Sealdah railway station. It operates the renowned Kalka Mail, India's oldest train. The headquarters of the Eastern Railway is located at Fairley Place in Kolkata.

East Central Railway Zone (ECR)

Commencing operations on October 1, 2002, the East Central Railway was established by reorganizing territories from the Eastern and North Eastern Railway zones. With an extensive network spanning 5,402.693 track kilometres and 3,707.988 route kilometres, it covers Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The headquarters of the East Central Railway is situated in Hajipur.

East-Coast Railway Zone (ECoR)

The East Coast Railway was established on April 1, 2003. It serves the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. The headquarters of the East Coast Railway is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Southern Railway Zone (SR)

On April 14, 1951, the Southern Railway Zone was formed through the amalgamation of three state railways: the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company, and the Mysore State Railway. The Southern Railway Zone encompasses the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, along with smaller sections of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Each year, over 50 crore passengers travel on this extensive network. The headquarters of Southern Railway (SR) is at Chennai Central.

South Central Railway Zone (SCR)

Established on October 1, 1966, the South Central Railway zone operates across Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The headquarters of this zone is located at Secunderabad railway station.

South-Coast Railway Zone (SCoR)

The official notification for establishing the South Coast Railway Zone is yet to be released. This upcoming addition to the Indian Railways will have its headquarters situated in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

South-Eastern Railway Zone (SER)

The South Eastern Railway was established on August 1, 1955. It serves the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The South Eastern Railway is responsible for managing significant freight traffic to Kolkata, Haldia, as well as operating routes from Howrah to Digha and Mecheda to Digha.

South East Central Railway Zone (SECR)

The South Eastern Railway zone was established on April 1, 2003. Its headquarters is located in Garden Reach, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. This zone serves multiple regions across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Additionally, it has a secondary headquarters in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

South Western Railway Zone (SWR)

The South Western Railway zone was established on April 1, 2003. It encompasses the majority of railway lines in the states of Karnataka and Goa, excluding the Konkan Railway line. Additionally, it covers portions of Sri Sathya Sai district and Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, as well as Krishnagiri district, parts of Dharmapuri district, and Tirupathur district in Tamil Nadu. The headquarters of the South Western Railway zone is located in Hubballi.

Western Railway Zone (WR)

On November 5, 1951, the Western Railway was established through the amalgamation of multiple state-owned railways. It caters to the entire state of Gujarat, certain parts of Western Madhya Pradesh, and the coastal regions of Maharashtra. The headquarters of the Western Railway is located at Churchgate Station in Mumbai.

West Central Railway Zone (WCR)

The West Central Railway came into existence on 1 April 2003. This zone operates in eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh, southern Uttar Pradesh, and northeastern Rajasthan. The headquarters of the West Central Railway is situated in Jabalpur.

Kolkata And Mumbai are the cities with the most Zonal Headquarters of Indian Railways. Three of them each. Along with all these railway zones, there is another zone on Indian Railway System: Metro Railway, Kolkata.