Parliament Question: Train Derailments

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 647 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025 TRAIN DERAILMENTS

647. MR PATHAN YUSUF:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of train derailments since 2014, year and railway zone- wise;

(b) the number of fatalities in these derailments since 2014, year and railway zone-wise; and

(c) the details of amount of compensation paid on account of these fatalities since 2014, year and zone-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): 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 11 in 2025-26 (upto November 2025).

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.

234 s t n e d ic c 165 A n ia 135 r T la it n e u q e s 55 48 n 40 o 31 C 35 f o 22 11 .o N Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties (including railway passengers and railway personnel) therein are as

follows:- Period No. of Consequential No. of No. of Train Accidents Deaths Injuries 2004-05 to 2013-14 1,711 904 3,155 2014-15 to 2023-24 678 748 2,087 2024-25 31 18 92The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train

operations are as under:-

1. On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related activities has

increased over the years as under:- Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.) 2013-14 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 (Act.) (Act.) (Act.) 39,463 87,327 1,01,651 1,14,022 1,16,470

2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,656 stations up to

31.10.2025 to reduce accidents due to human failure.

3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 10,098 Level Crossing Gates up to 31.10.2025 for enhancing safety at LC Gates.

4. Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by electrical means has been provided at 6,661 stations up to 31.10.2025.

5. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order. Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach is provided progressively in phased manner. Initially, Kavach Version 3.2 was deployed on 1465 RKm of South Central Railway and 80 RKm of North Central Railway. Kavach specification Version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024. After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach Version 4.0has been successfully commissioned on Palwal-Mathura-Kota-Nagda section (633Rkm) onDelhi-Mumbai route and on Howrah-Bardhaman section (105RKm)on Delhi-Howrah route. Kavach implementation has been taken up in balance sections of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah route. Further, Kavach implementation has been taken up on 15,512 RKm covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways.

6. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signalling, e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.

7. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.

8. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.

9. Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is located two OHE masts prior to the signals in electrified territories to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather.

10. A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected areas which enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates, etc.

11. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength

(UTS) rails, Prestressed 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.

12. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to reduce human errors.13. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing progress of rail renewal and avoiding welding of joints, thereby improving safety.

14. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.

15. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e., Flash Butt Welding.

16. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).

17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.

18. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works.

19. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.

20. Web based online monitoring system of track assets viz. Track database and decision support system has been adopted to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.

21. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Track, e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions, etc. have been issued.

22. Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.

23. Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done.

24. All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have been eliminated by January 2019.25. Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken up based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.

26. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory “Fire Notices” for widespread passenger information in all 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.

27. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system in newly manufactured 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.

28. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.

29. Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette 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:- 2014-15 to 2004-05 to 2014-25 Vs.

S.N. Item 2024-25 2013-14 2004-14 Technological Improvements

1. Use of high-quality 57,450 Km 1.43 Lakh Km More than 2 rails (60 Kg) (Km) times2. Longer Rail Panels 9,917 Km 77,522 Km Nearly 8

(260m) (Km) times

3. Electronic Interlocking 837 3,691 Stations More than 4

(Stations) Stations times

4. Fog Pass Safety As on As on 31.03.25: 288 times Devices (Nos.) 31.03.14: 25,939 Nos.

90 Nos.

5. Thick Web Switches Nil 28,301 Nos. (Nos.) Better Maintenance Practices

1. Primary Rail Renewal 32,260 Km 49,941 Km 1.5 times (Track Km)

2. USFD (Ultra Sonic 79.43 Lakh 2 Crore More than 2 Flaw detection) times Testing of Welds (Nos.)

3. Weld failures (Nos.) In 2013-14: In 2024-25: 90 % 3699 Nos. 370 Nos. reduction

4. Rail fractures (Nos.) In 2013-14: In 2024-25: More than 2548 Nos. 289 Nos. 88% reduction Better Infrastructure and Rolling Stock

1. New Track KM added 14,985 Km 34,428 Km More than 2 (Track Km) times

2. Flyovers 4,148 Nos. 13,808 Nos. More than 3

(RoBs)/Underpasses times

(RUBs) (Nos.)

3. Unmanned Level As on As on Removed crossings 31.03.14: 31.03.24:Nil (Nos.) on BG 8,948 (All eliminated by 31.01.19)

4. Manufacture of LHB 2,337 Nos. 42,677 More than 18 Coaches (Nos.) times Accident victims are paid ex-gratia relief soon after an accident or untoward incident. Total amount of ex-gratia paid by the Railways to the next of kin of deceased individuals in train accidents that happened from01.01.2014 to 21.11.2025 is Rs. 12.76 Cr.Compensation for death and injury of railway passengers in train accidents and untoward incidents, as defined under Section 124 and

Section 124-A (read with Section 123) of the Railways Act, 1989, is decided by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) on the basis of a claim application filed by the victims/their dependents before RCT and it disposes of the cases after following the due judicial process. Railway Administration pays compensation when a decree is awarded by Hon’ble RCT in favour of the claimant and Railways decide to implement the decree. Compensation amount is over and above the ex-gratia amount. Total amount of compensation paid by the Railways to the next of kin of the deceased individuals in train derailments that happened from 01.01.2014 to

21.11.2025 is Rs. 21.72 Crore.

It may be noted that the compensation paid in a year need not necessarily relate to the accidents/casualties in that year alone. The amount paid in a year depends upon the number of cases finalized by Railway Claims Tribunals (RCTs) or other Courts of Law in a particular year irrespective of the year(s) in which the accident they pertain to, have occurred.

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