IN 1853 the government of India, then directed by Britain's East India Company, began construction of a vast rail network, continued by the British Raj, established in 1858. At the time, most inland transport in India was hauled by draught animals: with carts where roads existed and were passable; packed on animals' backs when they were not, which was often. Moving goods across the great expanse of the subcontinent was costly and painfully slow. That changed with the arrival of the railway. Between 1853 and 1930 more than 67,000km (42,000 miles) of rail was laid across India, providing transport that was fast, cheap and reliable. A bullock could carry a pack 30km a day; an engine could haul freight 600km over the rails in the same time.
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机译：1853年，当时由英国东印度公司（East India Company）领导的印度政府开始建立庞大的铁路网络，并由1858年建立的英国拉吉（British Raj）继续。当时，印度的大部分内陆运输都被牲畜拖着：道路存在并且可以通行的地方；经常在没有动物的时候背在他们的背上。在次大陆的广阔范围内运输货物既昂贵又痛苦缓慢。随着铁路的到来，情况发生了变化。在1853年至1930年之间，印度境内铺设了超过67,000公里（42,000英里）的铁路，提供了快速，廉价和可靠的运输。一只牛每天可以携带30公里的背包；一台发动机可以同时在铁路上拖运600公里的货物。
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