On completion of the probation in SCRA, one will be posted as an officer in the junior scale. Promotion to the senior scale takes place after about two years of service in working post. After six to seven years of service, the officer is promoted to the Junior Administrative Grade, which has two levels. One can be serving in various assignments at the Junior Administrative Grade for 8-10 years. This is followed by the Selection Grade.

The next in seniority is the Senior Administrative Grade, equivalent to the Joint Secretary, Government of India which is obtained after 16-18 years of service. Officers of this grade may be posted as heads of various workshops in the field, as heads of a department functioning at the Headquarters office, as Addition Divisional Railway Manager or as the Executive Director in the Railway Board. After six to eight years, while remaining in the same pay scale officers are selected to be appointed as Divisional Railway Managers (DRM).

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) heads the organization at the division level. There are currently 67 divisions on the system nationwide. The divisions are primarily involved with train running but may have loco sheds (repair shops for locomotives), coaching depots (repair home bases for passenger trains) and wagon depots (repair and maintenance points for freight stock).

Each division has all the functional (both line and staff) organizations. The heads of these functional groups report to the DRM for administrative purposes but rely on guidance from the railway board and the zonal headquarters for policy guidelines.

This branch of the Indian Railways looks after transportation and commercial matters pertaining to transportation. The branch is further divided into two divisions:

(I) The commercial division: This division deals with all commercial responsibilities like ticket checking, catering, administration and management of stations, reservation, platform announcements etc.

(II) The operations division: This division deals with controlling movement of the trains. Keeping a check on incoming and outgoing trains.

A career with the IRTS begins with 3 years of probationary training.

The training is carried out for 2 years at LAL Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussourie, zonal training centres and incorporates on the job training.

This branch of the Railways deals with the accounting and finance operations of the Indian Railway.

Appointed officers of the IRAS begin their careers with two years of probationary service.

This division handles all matters relating to recruitment, promotions, training and even staff welfare, staff welfare activities, transfers, disciplinary actions and so on. The officers of the personnel department also undergo a 3-year probation period.

This branch of the Indian Railway Services operates as other para-military forces. They are responsible for the maintenance of law and order on trains and on premises owned and used by the Indian Railways.

On recruitment a RPF officer undergoes training for 3 years at Baroda, Lucknow and Police training establishments.

It is the technical side of the Indian Railways and is engaged in activities like installation, maintenance, construction and planning of railway tracks, bridges and buildings.

Engineers can join the Indian Railways as Group 'A' personnel. They are selected for five branches as technical staff for the Indian Railways.

A. Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE)

B.Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME)

C.Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE)

D.Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE)- Engineers specializing in Signals and Tele - communications.