Indian Railways’ Safety Push Brings Down Consequential Train Accidents to 31 in 2024–25 and 3 in 2025–26 from 1,711 in 2004–14: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Ministry of Railways Indian Railways’ Safety Push Brings Down Consequential Train Accidents to 31 in 2024–25 and 3 in 2025–26 from 1,711 in 2004–14: Ashwini Vaishnaw Accidents Per Million Train Kilometres Drop by 73%, From 0.11 in 2014–15 to 0.03 in 2024–25 Fog Safety Devices Increase 288 Times, From 90 in 2014 to 25,939 in 2025 & Rail Fractures Reduce by Over 88%, From 2,548 in 2013–14 to 289 in 2024–25 : Ashwini Vaishnaw Ultra Sonic Flaw Detection Testing of Welds Doubles and Electronic Interlocking Increases More Than Four Times Since 2014-15 Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 6:18PM by PIB Delhi Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of various safety measures taken over the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents. Consequential Train Accidents have reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25 as shown in the graph below. It may be noted that the Consequential Train Accidents during the period 2004-14 was 1711 (average 171 per annum), which has declined to 31 in 2024-25 and further to 3 in 2025-26 (upto June). Another important index showing improved safety in train operations is Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) which has reduced from 0.11 in 2014-15 to 0.03 in 2024-25, indicating an improvement of approx. 73% during the said period.On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related activities has increased over the years as under:- (cid:108) Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.) 2013-14 2022-23 2023-24 RE 2024- BE (Act.) (Act.) (Act.) 25 2025-26 Maintenanc e of Permanent 9,172 18,115 20,322 21,800 23,316 Way & Works Maintenanc e of Motive Power and 14,796 27,086 30,864 31,540 30,666 Rolling Stock Maintenanc e of 5,406 9,828 10,772 12,112 12,880 Machines Road Safety LCs and 1,986 5,347 6,662 8,184 7,706 ROBs/ RUBs Track 4,985 16,326 17,850 22,669 22,800 Renewals Bridge 390 1,050 1,907 2,130 2,169 Works Signal & Telecom 905 2,456 3,751 6,006 6,800 Works Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. 1,823 7,119 9,523 9,581 10,134 expenditure on Safety Total 39,463 87,327 1,01,651 1,14,022 1,16,470 Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have (cid:108)been provided at 6,635 stations up to 30.06.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 11,096 level Crossing Gates up to (cid:108) 30.06.2025 for enhancing safety at LC gates. Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by (cid:108) electrical means has been provided at 6,640 stations up to 30.06.2025. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest (cid:108) order. Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach is provided progressively in phased manner. Kavach has already been deployed on 1548 RKm on South Central Railway and North Central Railway. Presently, the work is in progress on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors (approximately 3000 RKm). Kavach has been successfully commissioned over Kota–Mathura section (Delhi – Mumbai route) covering 324 Route Kilometers on 30.07.2025. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signalling, e.g. mandatory correspondence (cid:108) check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re- (cid:108) emphasized. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco (cid:108) Pilots. Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is located two OHE masts prior to (cid:108) the signals in electrified territories to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather. A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected areas which (cid:108) enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates, etc. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed (cid:108) Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base sleepers with elastic fastening, fan shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges is used while carrying out primary track renewals. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to (cid:108) reduce human errors. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing progress of rail renewal and (cid:108) avoiding welding of joints, thereby improving safety. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective (cid:108) rails. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption of better (cid:108) welding technology for rails i.e., Flash Butt Welding. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track (cid:108) Recording Cars). Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures. (cid:108) The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works. (cid:108) Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe (cid:108) practices. Web based online monitoring system of track assets viz. Track database and decision support (cid:108) system has been adopted to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Track, e.g. integrated block, corridor block, (cid:108) worksite safety, monsoon precautions, etc. have been issued. Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train (cid:108) operations. Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done. (cid:108)All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have been eliminated by (cid:108) January 2019. Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of Bridges. The requirement of (cid:108) repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken up based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory “Fire Notices” for widespread passenger information in all (cid:108) coaches. Fire posters are provided in every coach so as to educate and alert passengers regarding various Do’s and Don’ts to prevent fire. These include messages regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system in newly manufactured (cid:108) Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured coaches. Progressive fitment of the same in existing coaches is also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken. (cid:108) Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette (cid:108) notification dated 30.11.2023, wherein work of integrated maintenance/ repair/replacement of assets is planned up to 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan. The details of the Safety related works related to better maintenance practices, Technological improvements, better infrastructure and rolling stock etc. undertaken by Railways are tabulated below: - 2004-05 to 2014-15 to 2024-25 2014-25 Vs. 2004- S.N. Item 2013-14 (till March 25) 14 Technological improvements Use of high-quality 1. 57,450 Km 1.43 Lakh Km More than 2 times rails (60 Kg) (Km) Longer Rail Panels 2. 9,917 Km 77,522 Km Nearly 8 times (260m) (Km) E l e c t r o n i c 3. I n t e r l o c k i n g 837 Stations 3,691 Stations More than 4 times (Stations) As on Fog Pass Safety As on 31.03.25: 4. 31.03.14: 288 times Devices (Nos.) 25,939 90 Nos. Thick Web Switches 5. Nil 28,301 Nos. (Nos.) Better maintenance practices Primary Rail Renewal 32,260 1. 49,941 Km 1.5 times (Track Km) Km USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw 79.43 2. 2 Crore More than 2 times detection) Testing Lakh of Welds (Nos.) In 2013- Weld failures In 2024-25: 3. 14: 3699 90 % reduction (Nos.) 370 Nos. Nos. Rail fractures In 2013- In 2024-25: More than 88% 4. (Nos.) 14: 2548 289 Nos. reductionNos. Better infrastructure and Rolling stock New Track KM 14,985 1. 34,428 Km More than 2 times added (Track km) Nos. Flyovers (RoBs)/ 4,148 2. U n d e r p a s s e s 13,808 Nos. More than 3 times Nos. (RUBs) (Nos.) As on 31.03.24: As on Unmanned Level Nil 31.03.14 3. crossings (All Removed : (nos.) on BG eliminated 8948 by 31.01.19) Manufacture of 2,337 4. LHB Coaches 42,677 More than 18 times Nos. (Nos.) Further, the following steps are being taken in coordination with other stakeholders to control the rush at stations: - Coordination with GRP/State Police and concerned railway departments are made for ensuring (cid:108) crowd management. Government Railway Police (GRP) & Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff are deployed at (cid:108) sensitive locations to regulate crowd smoothly during the heavy rush period and render real time assistance to passengers. GRP & RPF staff are deployed at foot-over bridges to regulate crowd smoothly in order to avoid (cid:108) stampede like situation during the heavy rush period and render real time assistance to passengers. Intelligence units (Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB)/Special Intelligence Branch (SIB)) and plain (cid:108) cloth staff is deployed for collection of information about rush and accordingly arrangements were made associating GRP/Police. This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to questions in Rajya Sabha today. ***** Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj (Release ID: 2154316)