Institute of Rail Transport (IRT), New Delhi  was established in 1963, with its headquarters in New Delhi. It has branches at all nine zonal Railway Headquarters-Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Secunderabad. The Institute of Rail Transport recognized by Distance Education Council (DEC) of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to offer one year and two year diploma courses. The IRT is managed by a Governing Council which includes Chairman and Members of the Railway Board, the General Managers of the Zonal Railways Production units and other Senior Railway Personnel.

The Institute serves as a bank of ideas and thoughts. It has lot of senior experienced people as its members. These senior members enrich the Institute with their knowledge and experience which can be taken advantage of by the young officers and supervisors. This is the only institution where railway men from all departments and non-railway men can meet and interact freely without any inhibition and departmental bias.