Western Railway Celebrates 74th Foundation Day with Special Coin Release

Mumbai, November 5, 2024 — Western Railway is celebrating its 74th Foundation Day today, marking a proud history of service to the nation. On the eve of the celebration, General Manager Shri Ashok Kumar Misra unveiled a special commemorative coin featuring the Western Railway Headquarters building, which is also celebrating its 125th anniversary.

During the event at the Headquarters in Churchgate, Shri Misra praised the hard work of all employees across its six divisions. He highlighted their dedication and the many achievements that have contributed to Western Railway's success over the years.

According to a press release from Shri Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the railway has its roots in the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI), founded in 1855. The first project involved building a 29-mile broad gauge track from Ankleshwar to Utran in Gujarat. By November 21, 1855, BB&CI signed an agreement with the East India Company to extend the railway to Baroda and Ahmedabad, helping transport cotton from Gujarat to the ports.

Western Railway, as we know it today, was formed on November 5, 1951, through the merger of BB&CI with several other regional railways. It now operates in six divisions: Mumbai Central, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Ratlam.

Over the years, Western Railway has introduced many significant services, such as the world’s first Ladies Special train and India’s first fully air-conditioned suburban train. In 1972, it launched the Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, one of the busiest trains in India. More recently, it has added Vande Bharat Express trains and the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service between Bhuj and Ahmedabad.

The newly released souvenir coin is made of Cupro Nickel with gold plating. One side showcases the Headquarters building in its full golden glory, while the other side commemorates the special event, featuring 125 serrations to mark the building's 125 years.

Today, Western Railway operates over 6,284 route kilometers across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. As it celebrates this milestone, the railway looks forward to continuing its journey of service and innovation.