Nomenclature

Trains are sorted into various categories which dictate the number of stops along their route, the priority they enjoy on the network, and the fare structure. Each express train is identified by a four-digit —the first digit indicates the zone that operates the train, the second the division within the zone that controls the train and is responsible for its regular maintenance and cleanliness, and the last two digits are the train's serial number.

For super-fast trains, the first digit is always '2', the second digit is the zone, the third is the division and only the last digit is the serial number within the division. Trains travelling in opposite directions along the same route are usually labelled with consecutive numbers. However, there is considerable variation in train numbers and some zones, such as Central Railway, has a less systematic method for numbering trains. Most express trains also have a unique name attached to them which are usually exotic and are taken from landmarks, famous people, rivers and so on. Some notable examples are:

1. Charminar Express between Hyderabad and Chennai, named after the Charminar monument in Hyderabad.
2. Ashram Express between Ahmedabad and New Delhi, after Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram
3. Gitanjali Express between Mumbai CST and Howrah (Kolkata), after Rabindranath Tagore's famous work.
4. Parasuram Express between Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram, after Parasurama.
5. Prayag Raj Express between Allahabad and New Delhi, after Prayag, a sacred pilgrimage spot and the ancient name of Allahabad.
6. Lal Bagh Express between Bangalore and Chennai, after the famous Lal Bagh botanical gardens in Bangalore.
7. Godavari Express between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam after the Godavari River in South India.
8. Nilgiri (Blue Mountain) Express between Chennai and Coimbatore after the Nilgiri hills.
9. Purshottam Express (New Delhi-Puri)
10. Kashi Vishwanath Express (New Delhi-Varanasi)
11. Mangla Express
12. Bagh Express (Howrah-Kathgodam)
13. Ala Hazarat Express (Bareilly-Bhuj)