Lok Sabha Question No. 630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Train Accidents due to Signal Failures
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  630 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS DUE TO SIGNAL FAILURES

630.   SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  number  of  train  accidents  caused  by  signal failures  in  the  Country  during  the  last  five  years,  including  the dates and locations of each incident;
- (b) the causes identified for signal failures leading to train accidents and the preventive measures implemented to address them;
- (c) the  number  of  railway  staff  held  accountable  or  undergone disciplinary  action  in  connection  with  said  accidents  during  the last five years;
- (d) the  details  of  technological  upgrades  /  modernisation  projects undertaken  /  planned  to  improve  signaling  systems  and  prevent said accidents; and
- (e) whether the Government has set any specific targets / timelines to reduce the incidence of such train accidents, if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the progress is being monitored and reported?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e): 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 3 in 2025-26 (upto June).

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.

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Consequential  Train  Accidents  on  Indian  Railways  and  casualties (including  railway  passengers  and  railway  personnel)  therein  are  as follows:-

| Period             | No. of Consequential Train Accidents   |   No. of Deaths | No. of Injuries   |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2004-05 to 2013-14 | 1,711                                  |             904 | 3,155             |
| 2014-15 to 2023-24 | 678                                    |             748 | 2,087             |

Each  Rail  accident  is  inquired  into  either  by  the  Commission  of Railway Safety, a statutory body under Ministry of Civil Aviation or by the Railway Departmental Inquiry Committees as per laid down norms.

The  causes  of  accidents  broadly  include  track  defects,  Loco  /  Coach defect, equipment failures including signalling, human errors, etc.

The  agencies,  after  due  deliberations,  submit  their  findings  and establish the responsibility of officers / staff leading to the rail accidents.  The  officers  /  staff  held  responsible  are  taken  up  under 'Railway Service (Disciplinary & Appeal) Rules' by the respective Zonal Railway.

The  various  safety  measures  taken  to  enhance  safety  in  train operations including improvement of signaling systems are as under:-

1. On Indian  Railways,  the  expenditure  on  Safety  related  activities has increased over the years as under:-

| Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                         | 2013-14 (Act.)                                          | 2022-23 (Act.)                                          | 2023-24 (Act.)                                          | RE 2024-25                                              | BE 2025-26                                              |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way & Works                    | 9,172                                                   | 18,115                                                  | 20,322                                                  | 21,800                                                  | 23,316                                                  |
| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock           | 14,796                                                  | 27,086                                                  | 30,864                                                  | 31,540                                                  | 30,666                                                  |
| Maintenance of Machines                                 | 5,406                                                   | 9,828                                                   | 10,772                                                  | 12,112                                                  | 12,880                                                  |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/ RUBs                          | 1,986                                                   | 5,347                                                   | 6,662                                                   | 8,184                                                   | 7,706                                                   |
| Track Renewals                                          | 4,985                                                   | 16,326                                                  | 17,850                                                  | 22,669                                                  | 22,800                                                  |
| Bridge Works                                            | 390                                                     | 1,050                                                   | 1,907                                                   | 2,130                                                   | 2,169                                                   |
| Signal & Telecom Works                                  | 905                                                     | 2,456                                                   | 3,751                                                   | 6,006                                                   | 6,800                                                   |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety     | 1,823                                                   | 7,119                                                   | 9,523                                                   | 9,581                                                   | 10,134                                                  |
| Total                                                   | 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 6,635 stations up to 30.06.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11,096 level Crossing Gates up to 30.06.2025 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 6,640 stations up to 30.06.2025.
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. Kavach has already been deployed on 1548 RKm on South Central Railway and North Central Railway. Presently, the work  is  in  progress  on  Delhi-Mumbai  and  Delhi-Howrah  corridors (approximately 3000 RKm). Track side works on these routes have been completed on about 2200 RKm as on 30.06.2025. Regular trials are being done on these sections.
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).
16. 17.
17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
18. 18.
19. 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.
30. 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
29. 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:-

| S.N.   | Item                                                      | 2004-05 to 2013-14           | 2014-15 to 2024-25           | 2014-25 Vs. 2004- 14         |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|        | Technological improvements                                | Technological improvements   | Technological improvements   | Technological improvements   |
| 1.     | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg) (Km)                    | 57,450 Km                    | 1.43 Lakh Km                 | More than 2 times            |
| 2.     | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                            | 9,917 Km                     | 77,522 Km                    | Nearly 8 times               |
| 3.     | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                        | 837 Stations                 | 3,691 Stations               | More than 4 times            |
| 4.     | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                            | As on 31.03.14: 90 Nos.      | As on 31.03.25: 25,939       | 288 times                    |
| 5.     | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                 | Nil                          | 28,301 Nos.                  |                              |
|        | Better maintenance practices                              | Better maintenance practices | Better maintenance practices | Better maintenance practices |
| 1.     | Primary Rail Renewal (Track Km)                           | 32,260 Km                    | 49,941 Km                    | 1.5 times                    |
| 2.     | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 Lakh                   | 2 Crore                      | More than 2 times            |
| 3.     | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013- 14: 3699 Nos.       | In 2024-25: 370 Nos.         | 90 % reduction               |
| 4.     | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013- 14: 2548 Nos.       | In 2024-25: 289 Nos.         | More than 88% reduction      |

|    | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   |
|----|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1. | New Track KM added (Track km)             | 14,985 Nos.                               | 34,428 Km                                 | More than 2 times                         |
| 2. | Flyovers (RoBs)/                          | 4,148 Nos.                                | 13,808 Nos.                               | More than 3 times                         |
|    | Underpasses (RUBs)                        |                                           |                                           |                                           |

|    | (Nos.)                                |                      |                                                  |                    |
|----|---------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
|  3 | Unmanned Level crossings (nos.) on BG | As on 31.03.14: 8948 | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed            |
|  4 | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)     | 2,337 Nos.           | 42,677                                           | More than 18 times |

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