Lok Sabha Question No. 2234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Slowdown in Average Speed of Vande Bharat Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ve Vaithilingam, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2234

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## SLOWDOWN IN AVERAGE SPEED OF VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS

2234.  SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:

DR. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI:

DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for the slowdown in the average speed of Vande Bharat trains over the years despite their design capability to operate at higher speeds;
- (b) the details of Government's assessment of infrastructure-related challenges  including  track  conditions  and  terrain  that  prevent  the  Vande Bharat trains from achieving their designed speed on most routes;
- (c) the steps being taken to address issues such as ongoing track upgrades, difficult terrains and seasonal weather impacts to improve operational speeds across all Vande Bharat routes;
- (d) the progress made in enhancing rail infrastructure under the Government's modernisation  initiatives  to  support  semi-high-speed  and  high-speed  rail travel; and
- (e) the details of the timeline and strategy for achieving optimal operational speeds  for  Vande  Bharat  Express  on  additional  routes  to  fulfil  its  intended role as a semi-high-speed train service?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e) Vande Bharat coaches are designed to operate up to speed  of 160 kmph. However, the speed of a train depends not only on type of rolling stock but also on track structure available along the route.

Upgradation  and  improvement  of  track  infrastructure  is  a  continuous  and ongoing process over Indian Railways. In 2014, speed potential of only about 31,000  km  of  track  was  110  kmph  and  above,  which  has  significantly  been improved to about 80,000 km at present. The following measures have been taken by Indian Railways to upgrade railway tracks:

- i. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails,  Pre-stressed  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  have  been used while carrying out primary track renewals.
- ii. The Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing have been used in turnout renewal works.
- iii. Supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  has  been  increased  to  avoid welding of joints, thereby improving safety.
- iv. Adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
- v. Adoption of mechanized system for track maintenance using high output plain tampers and points & crossing tampers for improved maintainability & reliability of track.
- vi. Deployment of  state-of-the-art  modern  machines  including  Rail  Grinding machines manufactured in India on Railway network to further improve asset reliability.
- vii. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc.
- viii. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  for  enhancing  safety  at  LC gates.
- ix. Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect  flaws  and timely removal of defective rails.
- x. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).

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