**Executive Summary**
This report presents the Minister of Railways' response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the punctuality and occupancy of Indian Railways. It addresses punctuality performance for mail/express/passenger trains, occupancy rates of Vande Bharat Express, and progress on high-speed rail corridors. The report also mentions the indigenous development of a Vande Bharat Sleeper variant. The date to be answered for the question is 03.12.2025
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Train Punctuality:**
* Indian Railways strives to maintain train punctuality, but various factors affect it.
* Factors include foggy weather, path constraints, asset maintenance, alarm chain pulling, agitations, cattle run over, and other unforeseen circumstances.
* Overall punctuality of Mail/Express trains on Indian Railways during 2024-25 was 77.12%.
* Overall punctuality of Mail/Express trains on Indian Railways during 2025-26 (April-October) was about 80%.
* **Vande Bharat Express:**
* The overall occupancy of Vande Bharat Express trains has been around 100%.
* The Sleeper Variant of Vande Bharat has been indigenously designed and developed. Two such rakes have already been manufactured and are under extensive trials/commissioning.
* **High-Speed Rail Corridors:**
* The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project (508 km) is currently under execution with assistance from the Government of Japan.
* Decisions for new high-speed rail projects are based on technical feasibility, financial viability, traffic demand, and funding availability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Railways:**
* **Impact:**
* Subject to ongoing scrutiny regarding train punctuality and occupancy.
* Required to address factors affecting punctuality and maintain high occupancy rates for Vande Bharat Express.
* Involved in the continued development and testing of the Vande Bharat Sleeper variant.
* Overseeing the execution of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue efforts to improve train punctuality despite various challenges.
* Address any routes with low passenger load.
* Ensure the successful commissioning of the Vande Bharat Sleeper variant.
* Proceed with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project.
**Passengers:**
* **Impact:**
* Affected by train delays and punctuality issues.
* Benefit from the availability and high occupancy of Vande Bharat Express trains.
* Will potentially benefit from the introduction of the Vande Bharat Sleeper variant and high-speed rail corridors in the future.
* **Action Required:**
* Potentially provide feedback on train services and punctuality.
**Government of Japan:**
* **Impact:**
* Partnering in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue providing technical and financial assistance for the MAHSR project.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: Indian government ministry responsible for the country's rail transport.
Vande Bharat Express: A semi-high-speed, electric multiple unit train operated by the Indian Railways.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project: A high-speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 595
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025
PUNCTUALITY OF MAIL/EXPRESS/PASSENGER TRAINS
595. DR. LATA WANKHEDE:
SMT. SHAMBHAVI:
DR. D. PURANDESWARI:
SHRI RAJESH VERMA:
SHRI ATUL GARG:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the punctuality performance of Mail/ Express/
Passenger trains during the last year along with the primary reasons
for delays, zone-wise;
(b) the average occupancy rate of Vande Bharat Express trains since
their introduction, routewise;
(c) whether any routes has low passenger load and if so, the details
thereof;
(d) the details of the steps being taken to rationalise Vande Bharat
fares to improve occupancy;
(e) whether the "Vande Bharat Sleeper" version has been finalised for
overnight routes and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the timeline for introducing high-speed rail corridors on other
identified routes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) Indian Railways makes all possible efforts to run trains on
time. Several factors affect punctual running of trains which include
foggy weather, path constraints, asset maintenance, alarm chain
--2/--2-
pulling, agitations, cattle run over and other unforeseen
circumstances. Overall punctuality of Mail/Express trains on Indian
Railways during 2024-25 was 77.12% and during 2025-26 (April-
October) was about 80%.
The overall occupancy of Vande Bharat Express trains has been
around 100%.
The Sleeper Variant of Vande Bharat has been indigenously designed
and developed. Two such rakes have already been manufactured and
are under extensive trials/commissioning.
(f) Presently, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project
(508 km) is under execution with technical and financial assistance
from the Government of Japan. HSR projects are highly capital
intensive and any decision for taking up new project is based on many
factors such as technical feasibility, financial & economic viability,
traffic demand and availability of funds & financing options etc.
*****