NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The state-owned Indian Railways has decided to hire nearly 10,000 security personnel to guard the country's sprawling train network.

Of the total posts of 9,739 advertised online in the Railway Protection Force, 8,619 are for the rank of constables (lowest rung) while some 1,120 are for sub-inspectors (mid-level rank), India's Railway Ministry has said in a release.

A senior railways official said Wednesday that the hiring of the nearly 10,000 personnel would strengthen the security network of the Indian Railways.

The Indian Railways is one of the world's largest train networks, criss-crossing the country from north to south. It operates some 9,000 passenger trains and carries nearly 23 million passengers every day.