Lok Sabha Question No. 2561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Decreased Train Speed
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2561 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## DECREASED TRAIN SPEED

## 2561.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of decreased speed of the trains on certain routes due to ageing or inadequate railway infrastructure;
- (b) if so, the routes or zones most affected by this issue;
- (c) whether any assessment has been conducted to identify the specific infrastructure  deficiencies  causing  speed  reductions,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the funds allocated and utilized for the infrastructure modernization in the last three years;
- (e)  the  steps  being  taken  to  upgrade  tracks,  signalling  systems  and bridges  to  ensure  higher  train  speeds  in  the  country,  including  Tamil Nadu; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has  set  any  timeline  to  eliminate  speed restrictions caused by poor infrastructure and if so, the details thereof?

## 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  at present due to following measures taken by Indian Railways:

- i. Laying  of  track  structure  consisting  of  60  kg  longer  rails  on prestressed reinforced concrete (PSC) sleepers with modern fittings.
- ii. Use  of  thick  web  switches  and  weldable  Cast  Manganese  Steel (CMS) crossings etc.
- iii. Providing  Long  welded  rails/Continuous  welded  rails  to  eliminate the joints.
- iv. Use of Flash butt welding in place  of  thermit  welds  by  providing long  rail  panels  and  testing  of  Flash  Butt  welds  by  advanced technology  of  Phased  Array  Ultrasonic  testing  to  enhance  weld reliability.
- 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. Mechanization of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to improve progress of track renewal along with ensuring quality and 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.

The  various  maintenance/  upgradation  works  are  required  to  be  carried out  without  stopping  the  train  operations.  In  some  cases,  trains  are required  to  be  permitted  at  reduced  speed  (speed  restriction)  while passing  through  worksite  locations  in  order  to  ensure  safety  of  trains. After  completion  of  the  work  and  as  per  laid  down  procedures,  normal train speed is restored.

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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