In Indian Railways, which of the following is considered the longest railway route in India in terms of distance between its terminal stations?

Introduction / Context:
Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, and competitive exams often ask about record holding trains and routes. The longest railway route in India by distance connects the north eastern part of the country to its southern tip. This route is served by a well known long distance train in the Vivek Express series, and knowing its terminal stations helps aspirants answer questions related to superlative records of Indian Railways. Understanding these extremes also gives a sense of the vast geographical spread covered by the national network.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the longest railway route within India, based on distance between terminal stations.
• Options list four different long routes, all involving far apart locations.
• The correct route must extend from extreme north or north east to the southern tip.
• We assume current operational routes as recognised in standard railway general knowledge.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is that the longest train route by distance in India is operated by a Vivek Express connecting Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. This route covers several thousand kilometres and crosses multiple states and railway zones. Jammu Tawi to Kanyakumari and other listed routes are also long, but their total distances are shorter. The method is to recall the name Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari Vivek Express, which appears frequently in railway GK notes as the longest train route in India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the longest route is likely to connect either Jammu Kashmir or north east India with the southern extremity at Kanyakumari. Step 2: Recall that a Vivek Express train runs between Dibrugarh in Assam and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and is repeatedly described as the longest route. Step 3: Compare this with the Jammu Tawi to Kanyakumari route, which is long but begins further west compared to Dibrugarh. Step 4: Note that Guwahati to Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi to Chennai Central are also major routes but cover less distance than Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari. Step 5: Conclude that Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari (Vivek Express route) is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to recall approximate route lengths from exam guides. The Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari Vivek Express is often quoted as covering more than four thousand kilometres and taking around three days of travel. Other long distance trains, though important, generally have shorter route lengths. If candidates associate the phrase longest train route in India directly with this specific Vivek Express, it becomes easy to confirm the answer when such a question appears in an exam.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jammu Tawi to Kanyakumari is a long north to south route but does not match the total distance of the Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari route. Guwahati to Thiruvananthapuram is a significant route connecting north east India with the south but is shorter than the Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari stretch. New Delhi to Chennai Central is a busy trunk route but clearly shorter than routes that stretch from the far north east to the southern tip of India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse longest train by distance with busiest or most popular routes and incorrectly choose New Delhi to Chennai or other well known pairs. Others may recall only that a route to Kanyakumari is longest but mix up Dibrugarh with Jammu Tawi or Guwahati. To avoid confusion, it is useful to memorise the full phrase Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari Vivek Express as the record holder and practice mapping the route mentally across the Indian map, which reinforces the fact that it spans nearly the entire length of the country.

Final Answer:
The longest railway route in India by distance between terminal stations is Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari (Vivek Express route).