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Colonial Beginnings

The history of Indian Railways in Gujarat began with the Bombay, Baroda and Central India (BB&CI) Railway, formed in 1855. By 1864, the line extended to Bombay, establishing Gujarat as a key western railway corridor.

Development of BB&CI Railway

The Surat-Broach line began in 1860, followed by connections to Baroda in 1861 and Ahmedabad in 1863. Ahmedabad was linked to Bombay in 1864 and Delhi by 1879, making it a major junction with railways radiating in all directions.

Integration of Princely State Railways

Before independence, several princely states operated their own railways (Bhavnagar, Kathiawad, Dwarka, Gondal, Morbi, Jamnagar). These were merged into BB&CI in 1948. In 1951, BB&CI was merged to form the Western Railway zone.

Key Railway Stations and Lines

• Ahmedabad: Connected to Bombay in 1870 and Delhi in 1879. Became a major freight hub by 1965.
• Surat: Integral to the BB&CI network since 1855. The Flying Ranee train between Surat and Bombay was introduced in 1937.
• Rajkot: NG lines from Wadhwan to Rajkot via Morbi opened in 1890.
• Bhavnagar: NG lines from Bhavnagar to Talaja started in 1926. Merged into Saurashtra State Railway in 1948.

Modern Expansion

Gujarat's railway network has evolved with gauge conversions, electrification, and modernisation. Ahmedabad remains a vital hub for passenger and freight services, and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project will further transform the state's connectivity.