**Policy Summary: Indian Railways Track Upgradation (2014-2025)**
The Ministry of Railways has significantly upgraded railway tracks over the past decade to enhance speed potential. Key measures include deploying 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, and H-beam sleepers, alongside modern track renewal and maintenance machines.
As of 2025, over 78% of railway tracks have been upgraded for sectional speeds of 110 kmph and above. Specifically, track kilometers with speed potential of 110 kmph increased from 22,862 km (21.6%) in 2014 to 59,800 km (56.6%) in 2025. Tracks with speed potential between 110-130 kmph increased from 26,409 km (33.3%) in 2014 to 59,800 km (56.6%) in 2025. Tracks exceeding 130 kmph rose from 5,036 km (6.3%) to 23,010 km (21.8%) during the same period. The total track length increased from 79,342 Km to 1,05,672 Km.
This infrastructure improvement supports the operation of Vande Bharat trains, which have a design speed of 180 kmph and a maximum operating speed of 160 kmph. The first prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset has been manufactured and is undergoing commissioning following extensive field trials.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2025. Release ID: 2148364.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for the Indian Railways.
Indian Railways: The state-owned railway company of India.
Vande Bharat Trains: A series of semi-high-speed and high-speed Electric Multiple Unit trains operated by Indian Railways.
Delhi: Location of Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Union Minister for Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where a question was answered regarding railway upgrades.
H Beam sleepers: Specific type of material used for track upgradation.
60 kg rails: Specific type of material used for track upgradation.
Ministry of Railways
More Than 78% of Railway Tracks Upgraded for
Sectional Speed of 110 kmph and Above
Track Upgradation: Railways Deploy 60 kg Rails,
Wider Base Concrete Sleepers, Thick Web Switches,
Longer Rail Panels, H-beam Sleepers etc. to
Improve Speed Potential of Tracks
Vande Bharat Trains Run at Maximum Operating
Speed of 160 kmph with Design Speed of 180 kmph
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 3:46PM by PIB Delhi
Upgradation and improvement of railway tracks on Indian Railways to increase the speed potential have been
carried out in a big way during the last 10 years. The measures for track upgradation include use of 60 kg
rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H Beam sleepers, modern track
renewal and maintenance machines etc.
As a result of the above measures, there has been significant increase in speed potential of the
tracks. The details of speed potential of railway tracks during 2014 vis a vis 2025 are as under:
Sectional Speed 2014 2025
(kmph) Track Km % Track Km %
<110 47,897 60.4 22,862 21.6
110-130 26,409 33.3 59,800 56.6
130 & above 5,036 6.3 23,010 21.8
Total 79,342 100 1,05,672 100
The Vande Bharat trains presently running over the Indian Railway network are Semi-High speed train services
with design speed of 180 kmph and maximum operating speed of 160 kmph. The average speed of the train
depends upon the geometry of the track, stoppages enroute, maintenance work in the section etc.
The first prototype of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset has already been manufactured. Based on the extensive
field trials and the experience gained therein, the first rake of Vande Bharat sleeper train is undergoing
commissioning.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
today.
*****Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj
(Release ID: 2148364)