Indian Railways provides Wi-Fi ( Wifi ) at more than 6,000 railway stations across the country, branded RailWire and operated by RailTel. It is one of the largest public Wi-Fi networks in the world. This guide explains how to connect, what is genuinely free and what costs money, where it works, and what to do when it will not connect.
🚆 Quick Information
| Service name | RailWire |
| Operated by | RailTel Corporation of India |
| Coverage | Over 6,000 railway stations |
| Where | Station platforms and concourses, not on board trains |
| What you need | A smartphone with a working mobile number for the OTP |
| Cost | An initial free session, with paid plans for longer or faster use |
What Is Free and What Is Not
This is the part most guides skip. RailWire runs on a freemium model rather than being unlimited and free.
| Free session | A short initial period at a basic speed, enough to check messages, look up your train or download a ticket |
| Paid plans | Higher speeds and longer durations, bought through the RailWire portal by day, week or month |
Plan for the free session being short. If you need to download something substantial, start it as soon as you connect rather than browsing first. Free session length and speeds are revised from time to time, so check the terms shown on the login page.
How to Connect
- Turn on Wi-Fi and look for the RailWire network in your list.
- Select it. No password is needed to join.
- Open your browser. The login page usually appears automatically. If it does not, go to railwire.co.in.
- Enter your mobile number on the login screen.
- Tap to receive the OTP, which arrives by SMS.
- Enter the OTP and you are connected.
You need a working mobile number to receive the OTP, so the service does not work on a data-only device or a foreign SIM without SMS.
When It Will Not Connect
Common problems and what usually fixes them:
| Login page does not appear | Open a browser and type railwire.co.in directly. Some phones suppress the automatic redirect. |
| OTP does not arrive | Check your signal, since the SMS needs mobile network coverage. Wait a moment and request it again. |
| Connected but no internet | You have joined the network but not completed the OTP login. Reopen the browser and finish the login. |
| Session ends abruptly | Your free session has run out. Reconnect or buy a plan. |
| Weak signal on the platform | Coverage is strongest near the concourse and main platform areas, weaker at the far ends. |
Where It Is Available
Coverage now extends to more than 6,000 stations, spanning everything from the largest terminals to small halt stations. That includes all fifteen stations in the Kashmir Valley, from Baramulla through Srinagar to Banihal, and the Jammu region stations.
Because coverage is so wide, the practical assumption is that your station probably has it. Look for the RailWire network rather than checking a list.
Where it may not work: A small number of very minor halts remain outside the network, and coverage at any station can be down temporarily for maintenance or a fault. If RailWire does not appear in your network list, it is likely not available at that station or is offline at that moment.
Wi-Fi at Stations, Not on Trains
A common misunderstanding worth clearing up. RailWire is station Wi-Fi. It works while you wait on the platform, and it does not follow you onto the train.
Some premium services, including certain Vande Bharat and Gatimaan Express rakes, offer their own onboard Wi-Fi or entertainment systems, but that is a separate facility on those trains rather than part of the RailWire network. For a normal journey, download what you need before you board.
How the Network Grew
The project began as part of the Digital India initiative, with RailTel rolling out Wi-Fi first at the largest A1 and A category stations, in partnership with Google as technology partner in the early phase.
Google later wound down its global public Wi-Fi programme, and RailTel has continued the expansion on its own, extending coverage far beyond the original target of major stations to reach small towns and rural halts. The network passed 3,000 stations in 2019 and has since more than doubled.
RailTel operates a high capacity fibre backbone along the railway network, which is what made this scale of rollout possible in the first place.
Making the Most of It
- Connect as soon as you reach the station, rather than waiting until your train is due.
- Start large downloads immediately, since the free session is short.
- Download your ticket and PNR status while connected, so you have them offline.
- Avoid banking and sensitive logins on any public Wi-Fi, here as anywhere else.
- Use it to check live running status before deciding whether to settle in the waiting room.
Frequently Asked Questions
✅ How many railway stations have Wi-Fi?
More than 6,000, from major terminals to small halt stations, which makes it one of the largest public Wi-Fi networks in the world.
✅ Is railway station Wi-Fi free?
Partly. You get a short free session at a basic speed, after which paid plans are available for higher speeds and longer duration. Check the terms shown on the login page.
✅ How do I connect to RailWire?
Select the RailWire network, open a browser, go to railwire.co.in if the login page does not appear, enter your mobile number and then the OTP sent by SMS.
✅ Why is my OTP not arriving?
The OTP comes by SMS, so you need mobile network coverage. Check your signal and request it again after a moment.
✅ Does the Wi-Fi work on the train?
No. RailWire is station Wi-Fi only. Some premium trains have their own separate onboard systems, but the station network does not extend onto trains.
✅ Do I need a password?
No password is needed to join the network. Access is authenticated by the OTP sent to your mobile number.
✅ Can foreign visitors use it?
Only with a mobile number that can receive an SMS in India, since the login depends on the OTP.
Quick Summary
| Network name | RailWire |
| Operator | RailTel |
| Stations covered | Over 6,000 |
| Login | Mobile number plus OTP, no password |
| Portal | railwire.co.in |
| Free | A short initial session at basic speed |
| Paid plans | Available for higher speed and longer use |
| On trains | Not included, station Wi-Fi only |
Station Wi-Fi is genuinely useful for a short wait, provided you know the free session is limited and you use it for what matters first. For more, see our guides on live train running status and ticket booking and enquiry.
Does the Wi-Fi work well at your station? Tell us which one in the comments, since coverage quality varies a lot.