Lok Sabha Question No. 3728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Increasing Train Speed across the Country including Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3728

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

INCREASING TRAIN SPEED ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING TAMIL NADU 3728.  SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  measures taken by the Government to upgrade the existing railway tracks to increase train speeds across the country including Tamil Nadu and the current status of these initiatives;
- (b)  the  details  on  the  allocation  of  funds  for  track  upgrades,  including  the technologies being employed to enhance safety and speed within Tamil Nadu during the last three years;
- (c)  the  target  speeds  set  for  various  routes  and  the  manner  in  which  the Government plan to ensure compliance with safety standards while achieving these speeds;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  coordinating  with  state  governments  and local authorities to facilitate the necessary infrastructure improvements for faster train services, if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether any specific timelines established for completing the upgrades on major routes, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the mechanism in place to monitor the progress and report to the public?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (f)  Indian  Railways  network  consists  of  various  routes  with  different permissible sectional speed. Increasing the speed potential/ Upgradation  of

railway track is a continuous and an ongoing process on Indian Railways.

In 2014, speed potential of only about 31,000 km of track was 110 kmph and above,  which  has  significantly  improved  to  about  80,000  km  (including railway  tracks  passing  through  Tamil  Nadu)  at  present  due  to  following measures taken by Indian Railways:

- 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 is used while carrying out primary track renewals.
- ii.   The  use  of  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weldable  CMS  Crossing  in  turnout renewal works.
- iii.   Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing progress of rail renewal and avoiding welding of joints, thereby improving safety.
- iv.   Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and 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 to reduce human errors.
- viii.  Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals to eliminate human failure.

- ix. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  for  enhancing  safety  at  LC gates.
- x.  Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect  flaws  and timely removal of defective rails.
- xi. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
- xii.  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.

On  Indian  Railways,  the  investment  on  safety  related  activities  including track renewal etc. is as under:

| (Rs. in cr.)                                        | (Rs. in cr.)   | (Rs. in cr.)   | (Rs. in cr.)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
|                                                     | 2022-23 (Act)  | 2023-24 (Act)  | BE 2024-25     |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way & Works                | 18,115         | 20,322         | 21,386         |
| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock       | 27,086         | 30,864         | 31,494         |
| Maintenance of Machines                             | 9,828          | 10,772         | 11,864         |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/RUBs                       | 5,347          | 6,662          | 9,980          |
| Track Renewals                                      | 16,326         | 17,850         | 17,652         |
| Bridge Works                                        | 1,050          | 1,907          | 2,137          |
| Signal & Telecom Works                              | 2,456          | 3,751          | 4,647          |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety | 7,119          | 9,523          | 9,615          |
| Total                                               | 87,327         | 1,01,651       | 1,08,776       |

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