Stories
Discover India's Only Free Train Where No Ticket Is Ever Required
N
News18•07-10-2026, 15:55
Discover India's Only Free Train Where No Ticket Is Ever Required
- •The historic train runs between Nangal in Punjab and Bhakra in Himachal Pradesh, covering a distance of 13 km without charging any fare.
- •Introduced around 1948 during the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, the train originally transported workers and heavy machinery to the site.
- •Operations are overseen and fully funded by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to preserve the region's historical legacy.
- •The service features vintage wooden coaches built in Karachi in 1923 and is pulled by a diesel engine.
- •Despite considering a ticketing system in 2011 due to rising costs, authorities decided to keep the train completely free for locals and tourists.
Key Questions Answered
The historic free train runs between Nangal in Punjab and Bhakra in Himachal Pradesh, covering a distance of about 13 km. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes and passes through the Shivalik hills and along the Sutlej River.
The train is not operated by Indian Railways, but rather by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). BBMB bears all the operating expenses, including diesel costs, allowing passengers to travel completely free of charge.
The railway service dates back to around 1948, when it was introduced during the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam. It was originally built to transport workers, engineers, heavy machinery, and construction materials to the project site.
