Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Punctuality of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, KAUSHAL KISHORE, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 131 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## PUNCTUALITY OF TRAINS

## †131.  SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is the fact that 40% of the trains have been delayed during the last few months, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  punctuality  of  trains  has  never  been  the  best  bet  for most  of  people  and  if  so,  whether  the  Railways  has  been  facing severe criticism for train delays;
- (c) whether some railway zones have extended the run time from 30
- minutes to 1 hour;
- (d) if so, whether the Union Government has decided to include the delayed time in the time table and if so, the facts in this regard; and
- (e) whether the average speed of superfast trains will be affected by including the delayed time in the time table and if so, the response of the Union Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) and  (b)  Percentage of Mail/Express trains delayed during last 3

## months is as under:-

| April 2018   | 39 %   |
|--------------|--------|
| May 2018     | 40%    |
| June 2018    | 35%    |

Since  last  few  months,  a  large  number  of  safety  related,  track maintenance works are being undertaken. This has led to drop in punctuality  of  trains  over  Indian  Railways.    For  maintenance  of assets and infrastructure augmentation, 4,60,566 block hours have been  given  during  April  to  June  2018  as  against  4,11,627  block hours during April to June 2017, which is 48,938 more block hours as compared to the corresponding period of 2017-18.

Many  times,  trains  get  delayed  not  only  due  to  the  factors related to its internal working but also external factors which are beyond  the  control  of  Railways.    In  addition  to  asset  failures, certain factors such as line capacity and terminal capacity constraints on account of increasing passenger and freight traffic, adverse  weather  conditions  (fog,  rains,  breaches),  intermittent natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, heavy rains, heavy road traffic at level crossing gates across the Indian Railways network, mid-section  run  over  cases  involving  cattle  and  humans  etc.  also adversely affect the punctuality of trains over Indian Railways.

(c) to (e) With a view to facilitate passengers about actual arrival of trains and to incorporate the time required for safety related works, Zonal Railways have proposed certain time table changes, including delayed arrival at certain terminals and the same is being reviewed.

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