A boy peers out of a window while his family travels by train in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Photographer Sara Hylton spent months traveling India's vast railway system. She said "the thing that stands out to me most about Indian trains is their intensity. ... Their scope and their culture is so much more intense than what I experienced on other trains. Everything feels multiplied."
A boy peers out of a window while his family travels by train in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Photographer Sara Hylton spent months traveling India's vast railway system. She said "the thing that stands out to me most about Indian trains is their intensity. ... Their scope and their culture is so much more intense than what I experienced on other trains. Everything feels multiplied."
Sara Hylton
A view of the train station in Dibrugarh, one of the main train stations in the northeastern state of Assam. India's first passenger train began running in 1853, and today the country's railway system is one of the largest in the world.
A view of the train station in Dibrugarh, one of the main train stations in the northeastern state of Assam. India's first passenger train began running in 1853, and today the country's railway system is one of the largest in the world.
Sara Hylton
A mother rests with her baby on the third and final day of their train trip to Kerala.
A mother rests with her baby on the third and final day of their train trip to Kerala.
Sara Hylton
A view from a train near Bhubaneswar station, the capital of the eastern state of Odisha. Despite being the second-poorest state in India, Odisha received a 30% increase in the Indian Railway budget to expand its transport system for 2016-17, Hylton said.
A view from a train near Bhubaneswar station, the capital of the eastern state of Odisha. Despite being the second-poorest state in India, Odisha received a 30% increase in the Indian Railway budget to expand its transport system for 2016-17, Hylton said.
Sara Hylton
Passengers sit in the waiting area at Shoranur Junction, a railway station in Kerala that stands at the intersection of four railway lines connecting the east, west, south and north of the country.
Passengers sit in the waiting area at Shoranur Junction, a railway station in Kerala that stands at the intersection of four railway lines connecting the east, west, south and north of the country.
Sara Hylton
A vendor shows textiles to passengers on India's longest train, the Vivek Express.
A vendor shows textiles to passengers on India's longest train, the Vivek Express.
Sara Hylton
A passenger shaves before his train arrives at his final destination in Kerala. Many passengers spend several days on the train with no access to showers, and they must share common spaces such as a bathroom.
A passenger shaves before his train arrives at his final destination in Kerala. Many passengers spend several days on the train with no access to showers, and they must share common spaces such as a bathroom.
Sara Hylton
A laborer works along the railway in rural Punjab.
A laborer works along the railway in rural Punjab.
Sara Hylton
Workers load goods onto a train at Guwahati station in Assam.
Workers load goods onto a train at Guwahati station in Assam.
Sara Hylton
Ravi, a food vendor at the Kota Junction train station in Rajasthan, sells bottled water and fried Indian snacks to travelers. Food options vary by state, particularly from north to south, Hylton said.
Ravi, a food vendor at the Kota Junction train station in Rajasthan, sells bottled water and fried Indian snacks to travelers. Food options vary by state, particularly from north to south, Hylton said.
Sara Hylton
PP Singh looks out the window on the Kochuveli Express. Unlike many other Indians, Singh and his family had the luxury of traveling in second AC, which offers bedding, air conditioning and more space and privacy.
PP Singh looks out the window on the Kochuveli Express. Unlike many other Indians, Singh and his family had the luxury of traveling in second AC, which offers bedding, air conditioning and more space and privacy.
Sara Hylton
A view of the Arabian Sea as a train passes through the southern coastal state of Goa.
A view of the Arabian Sea as a train passes through the southern coastal state of Goa.
Sara Hylton