Railway RRB / NTPC - MCQ Practice Questions

The maximum permissible speed for most passenger trains on Indian Railways is 130 km/h, which applies to premium express trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express running on upgraded tracks. This is the standard speed ceiling set by Indian Railways for broad gauge (BG) lines that have been specially maintained and tested for higher speeds. Many students confuse this with 160 km/h, which is the speed achieved by certain semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat Express on select upgraded corridors — but 160 km/h is not the general maximum speed limit applicable across the network for regular passenger trains. Option B (110 km/h) is the limit for ordinary Mail/Express trains, not the maximum overall limit. For the purpose of RRB/NTPC exams, 130 km/h is the accepted standard answer for the maximum speed limit of passenger trains on Indian Railways.

As of 2024, there are 18 railway zones in Indian Railways after recent reorganization.

Railway buffers (couplers) absorb and dissipate shock energy, protecting coaches from damage during coupling/decoupling.

# Indian Railways Braking System

The primary braking system used in Indian Railways is the Air Braking System (Westinghouse type), which uses compressed air to apply and release brakes across multiple coaches simultaneously.

## Step 1: Understanding Braking System Types

Indian Railways operates over 68,000 km of track with thousands of coaches. The braking system must be:

## Step 2: Why Air Braking System (Westinghouse)?

The Westinghouse air braking system is preferred because:

## Step 3: Comparison with Other Systems

| System | Advantages | Disadvantages |

|--------|-----------|---------------|

| Air (Westinghouse) | Fail-safe, long trains, quick | Complex |

| Vacuum | Simpler, older | Slower, unreliable |

| Hydraulic | Compact | Limited range, not fail-safe |

| Electromagnetic | Fast | Requires electricity, expensive |

## Step 4: Indian Railways Standard

Indian Railways adopted the Westinghouse air braking system as the standard because it is:

Answer: Air braking system (Westinghouse) (Option B)

Sidings are branch tracks where trains can be parked, waiting, or loaded/unloaded without blocking main lines.

Howrah Station in Kolkata has the maximum number of platforms (23 platforms) among Indian railway stations.

OHE stands for Overhead Equipment in Indian Railway terminology. It refers to the entire system of wires, masts, and supporting structures installed above the railway tracks to supply electric power to electric locomotives and EMUs (Electric Multiple Units). The OHE carries high-voltage alternating current (25 kV AC in India) that the pantograph of the train collects to power the traction motors. This is a very common term used by Indian Railways and frequently appears in RRB/NTPC exams.

Percentage increase = (100-80)/80 × 100 = $\frac{20}{80}$ × 100 = 25%

IRSS refers to Integrated Railway Signal System used in modern Indian Railways for safe train operations.

Railway crossings include level crossings, grade separations, and diagonal crossings. Overhead crossing is not a standard railway crossing type.

As per Indian Railways norms, the maximum permissible speed for narrow gauge (NG) trains (track gauge of 762 mm or 610 mm) is 60 km/h. Broad gauge trains can run up to 160 km/h (and higher on select corridors), while metre gauge trains are generally limited to 100 km/h. Narrow gauge lines, being the smallest gauge used by Indian Railways, have the lowest maximum speed limit of 60 km/h due to their track design and infrastructure constraints.

A turntable is a rotating platform used in railway yards to turn locomotives and wagons for repositioning without reversing.

PWAY stands for Permanent Way, which refers to the railway track structure including rails, sleepers, and ballast.

Anti-collision devices are safety systems designed to prevent train-to-train collisions by automatically applying brakes when necessary.

Total distance = (75×4) + (60×2) = 300 + 120 = 420 km. Total time = 6 hours. Average speed = $\frac{420}{6}$ = 70 km/h

The standard height of railway platforms in India is 750 mm (2 feet 6 inches) from rail level.

EMU stands for Electric Multiple Unit, which refers to electric trains that have distributed motor units in multiple cars.

Railway buffers are elastic devices that absorb impact and shock during coupling and uncoupling of coaches.

Railway stations in India are classified from Category A to F. Category H does not exist in the classification system.

# Solution: Rail Track Gauge Distance

Rail gauge refers to the distance between the inner edges of the two parallel rails on a railway track. India uses three different gauges, and broad gauge is the widest standard in use.

Step 1: Understand Rail Gauge Types

Different countries and regions use standardized rail gauges:

Step 2: Identify Broad Gauge Specification

Broad gauge is the largest standard gauge used in India and several other countries. It is designed to provide:

Step 3: Recognize the Standard Measurement

The distance between rail tracks in broad gauge is standardized at:

This measurement is maintained uniformly across all broad gauge railway lines.

**Answer: The distance between rail tracks in broad gauge is $1.676$ meters (Option C)**