Both passenger and freight traffic has seen steady growth , and as per the 2009 Railway budget presented by the Railway Minister , the Indian Railways carried over 7 billion passengers in 2009.Railways were introduced to India in 1853 from Mumbai to Thane , < ref name=irfcastamp > { { cite web
Passenger and freight traffic 's growth has been steady and according to the budget for the railways presented in 2009 by the Railway Ministry , in 2009 more than 7 billion people have used the Indian Railways .