Executive Summary:
This document addresses questions raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 490 regarding railway track doubling and electrification in the North Western Railway zone. It details completed projects in FY 2024-25 and 2025-26, explains factors affecting train speeds, and outlines track upgrades. The document also addresses doubling plans for the Merta Road to Bikaner line.
Key Points / Main Content:
Completed Doubling Projects (FY 2024-25 & 2025-26):
* Phulera-Degana: 108 km, project cost ₹836 crore.
* Churu-Ratangarh: 46 km, project cost ₹354 crore.
* Manheru-Bhawani Khera: 32 km (Manheru-Bhiwani 14 km), project cost ₹144 crore.
Completed Electrification Projects (FY 2024-25 & 2025-26):
* Sarupsar-Anupgarh: 71 km, cost ₹45 crore.
* Makrana-Phulera: 148 km, cost ₹94 crore.
* Thaiyat Hamira-Sanu: 66 km, cost ₹24 crore.
* Bechhiwara-Himmatnagar: 81 km, cost ₹56 crore.
* Jaisalmer-Ashapura Gomat: 125 km, cost ₹70 crore.
* Ratangarh-Molisar: 23 km, cost ₹17 crore.
* Molisar-Churu: 35 km, cost ₹42 crore.
* Manheru-Bhiwani: 14 km, cost ₹15 crore.
Factors Affecting Train Speed:
* Train speed depends on factors such as Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS), track gradient, rolling stock speed potential, path availability, maintenance, speed restrictions, and signaling systems.
* Train services are charted at MPS considering rolling stock speed potential.
Track Upgradation Measures:
* Modern track components (60 kg, 90 UTS rails, wider base PSC sleepers).
* Fan-shaped turnouts on PSC sleepers with Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossings.
* Steel Channel and H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges.
* 260 m long rail panels for rail renewals.
* Thick Web Switch Expansion Joint (TWSEJ) adoption.
* Mobile Flash Butt Welding Plant use.
* Advanced USFD testing (Phased Array technology).
* Mechanized track renewal (Track Relaying Trains, etc.).
* Integrated Track Monitoring Systems (ITMS) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) deployment.
* Advanced track maintenance machines (high output tampers, etc.).
* Self-propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing Car (SPURT) and Rail-Cum-Road Vehicle (RCRV) use.
* Portable Track Measuring Trolley adoption.
* Web-enabled Track Management System (TMS) for data analytics.
Track Upgradation Results:
* Track length with ≥110 kmph potential: Increased from 31,000 km (2014) to 83,000 km (2025).
* Track length with 130 kmph potential: Increased from 5,000 km (2014) to 23,000 km (2025).
Jodhpur Division Upgrades (110 kmph):
* Rai ka Bagh-Phalodi: 134 km
* Jodhpur-Phulera: 260 km
* Luni-Barmer: 180 km
* Merta Road-Bikaner: 150 km
Merta Road-Bikaner Doubling:
* Final Location Survey sanctioned for the 173 km line, for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Railways:
* Impact: Required to oversee and manage the ongoing track doubling, electrification, and upgradation projects to improve railway infrastructure and efficiency.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring project progress, allocate resources, and implement advanced technologies for track maintenance and monitoring.
North Western Railway Zone:
* Impact: Benefits from enhanced infrastructure, potentially leading to increased train speeds and improved operational efficiency.
* Action Required: Ensure proper execution and maintenance of completed projects and coordinate with relevant departments for optimal utilization of upgraded tracks.
Jodhpur Division:
* Impact: Experiences track upgrades, potentially leading to improved train speeds and efficiency.
* Action Required: Monitor the performance of upgraded tracks and ensure adherence to safety standards.
Passengers:
* Impact: May experience faster and more reliable train services due to track doubling, electrification, and upgradation.
* Action Required: No direct action required, but may benefit from improved service quality.
Key Entities Referenced
NorthWestern Railways: A zonal railway of Indian Railways, the focus of the parliamentary question regarding track doubling, electrification, and train speeds.
SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL: Member of Parliament (MP) who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding train speeds in NorthWestern Railways.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Phulera-Degana: A railway section within North Western Railway where doubling project has been completed.
Churu-Ratangarh: A railway section within North Western Railway where doubling project has been completed.
Indian Railways: The national railway system of India, undergoing track upgrades to increase train speeds.
Jodhpur division: A division of North Western Railway where sections have been upgraded to 110 kmph.
Merta Road, Rajasthan to Bikaner, Rajasthan: A railway line for which doubling is proposed, and a final location survey has been sanctioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 490
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
TRAINS SPEED IN NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAYS
†490. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the names of the locations between which the work
related to doubling and electrification of railway tracks has been
completed in North-Western railways during the last year and the
current year alongwith the details of the expenditure incurred on
such works;
(b) whether the speed of trains has not increased despite doubling
and electrification of railway lines in North-Western railways;
(c) if so, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the speed of 90% of trains have been reduced in Jodhpur
division despite doubling and electrification of railway line there;
(e) if so, the reasons therefor;
(f) whether the Government proposes the doubling of railway line
from Merta Road in Nagaur to Bikaner via Nagaur; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (g): Doubling project commissioned in North Western Railway
…2/--:2:-
during Financial Year 2024-25 and 2025-26 are as under:
S.No. Project Length Commissioned Cost of
(in Km) Section project
(₹ In cr.)
1 Phulera-Degana 108 Project 836
Doubling Completed
2 Churu-Ratangarh 46 Project 354
Doubling Completed
3 Manheru-Bhawani 32 Manheru- 144
Khera Doubling Bhiwani
(14 Km)
Details of sections electrified during Financial Year 2024-25 and 2025-
26 are as under:
S.No. Project Length Cost
(in Km) (₹ In Cr.)
1 Sarupsar-Anupgarh 71 45
2 Makrana-Phulera 148 94
3 Thaiyat Hamira-Sanu 66 24
4 Bechhiwara-Himmatnagar 81 56
5 Jaisalmer-Ashapura Gomat 125 70
6 Ratangarh-Molisar 23 17
7 Molisar-Churu 35 42
8 Manheru-Bhiwani 14 15
…3/--:3:-
Speeding up of train services is an on-going process on Indian Railways
(IR) and is dependent on various factors like Maximum Permissible
speed (MPS) of the sections, the gradient of the sections enroute,
speed potential of rolling stock/Loco, availability of path, maintenance
corridor blocks, permanent and temporary speed restrictions,
signaling system, etc. To optimally utilize the resources, train services
on IR are charted at Maximum Permissible Speed keeping in view the
speed potential of Rolling Stock.
Upgradation and improvement of track infrastructure is a continuous
and ongoing process. The various measures have been taken for this
purpose as under:
(i) Using modern track components consisting of 60 kg, 90 Ultimate
Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Wider base Pre-stressed Concrete
Sleeper (PSC) with modern elastic fastenings.
(ii) Laying of fan-shaped turnouts on PSC sleepers with Thick Web
Switches and Weldable CMS Crossings.
(iii) Providing Steel Channel and H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges.
(iv) Using 260 m long rail panels for rail renewals to minimize weld-
joints.
(v) Adoption of Thick Web Switch Expansion Joint (TWSEJ) in place
of conventional Switch Expansion Joint (SEJ).
(vi) Field-welding by mobile Flash Butt Welding Plant in place of
conventional Thermit welds.
…4/--:4:-
(vii) Use of advanced USFD testing technique of rail and welds by
Phased Array technology.
(viii) Mechanization in track renewal/ replacement using Track
Relaying Trains, Points & Crossing Changing machines, Track
Laying Equipment etc.
(ix) Deployment of Integrated Track Monitoring Systems (ITMS) and
Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) for comprehensive health
assessment to ascertain optimal maintenance requirements.
(x) Induction of advance modern machines for track maintenance
i.e., high output tampers, high output Ballast Cleaning Machines
and Rail Grinding Machines etc.
(xi) Adopting Self-propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing Car (SPURT) and
Rail-Cum-Road Vehicle (RCRV) based USFD system for testing of
rails/welds.
(xii) Adoption of portable Track Measuring Trolley for continuous
recording of track parameters in yards.
(xiii) Using web enabled Track Management System (TMS) for
integration and data analytics of the track inspection records
received through various sources to enable precise maintenance
inputs.
As a consequence of above measures, the details of upgraded railway
tracks with speed potential of 110 kmph and 130 kmph over Indian
Railways from 2014 to 2025 (till now) are as under:
…5/--:5:-
Track length with speed potential of 110 kmph and above
2014 ~ 31,000 km
2025 ~ 83,000 km (2.7 times)
Track length with speed potential of 130 kmph
2014 ~ 5,000 km
2025 ~ 23,000 km (4.6 times)
In Jodhpur division, the following sections have been upgraded to 110
kmph as a result of above track upgradation measures:
S.No. Section Stretch (km)
1. Rai ka Bagh-Phalodi 134
2. Jodhpur-Phulera 260
3. Luni-Barmer 180
4. Merta Road-Bikaner 150
Final Location Survey for doubling of Merta Road – Bikaner rail line (173
Km) has been sanctioned for preparation of Detailed Project Report
(DPR).
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