Lok Sabha Question No. 877 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Prevention of Serious Train Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 877

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## PREVENTION OF SERIOUS TRAIN ACCIDENTS

†877. Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent serious train accidents;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  constitute  a  committee  to suggest preventive measures and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  accidents  that  occurred  at  unmanned  railway crossing including the number of persons injured and the amount of compensation paid during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): 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.

Number of Consequential Train Accidents has reduced as shown in  the table below:-

| Year                | Consequential Accidents   |
|---------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15             | 135                       |
| 2025-26 (Till date) | 12 (90% lesser)           |

Another important index showing improvement in safety in train operations is Consequential Accidents Index, the details of which are as under:-

Consequential Accident Index:-

| Year    | Accident Index    |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2014-15 | 0.11              |
| 2024-25 | 0.03 (73% lesser) |

This  index  measures  number  of  consequential  accidents  as  a  ratio  of total running kilometers of all trains.

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2025-26

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Unmanned Level Crossings on Broad Gauge on Indian Railways have been eliminated by 2019. Therefore, there is no accident on Unmanned Level Crossings during the last three years and the current year.

The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train operations are as under:-

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

| Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                                                        | 2022-23                                                        | 2023-24                                                        | 2024-25                                                        | 2025-26                                                        |
| 39,200                                                         | 87,336                                                         | 1,01,662                                                       | 1,14,022                                                       | 1,17,693                                                       |

2. Electrical/Electronic  Interlocking  Systems  with  centralized  operation of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,660  stations  up  to 31.12.2025 to reduce accidents due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 10,097 Level  Crossing  Gates  up  to  31.12.2025  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  6,665 stations up to 31.12.2025.
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. Based on deployment of Kavach version 3.2 on 1465  RKm  on  South  Central  Railway  and  experience  gained,  further improvements  were  made.  Finally,  Kavach  specification  version  4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.

After  extensive  and  elaborate  trials,  Kavach  Version  4.0  has  been successfully  commissioned  on  1297  Route  Kilometres,  covering  the high density Delhi - Mumbai and Delhi - Howrah routes. On the Delhi Mumbai  route  Kavach  ver  4.0  has  been  commissioned  on  Junction cabin  -  Palwal  -  Mathura  -  Nagda  section  (667  Rkm)  &  Ahmedabad  Vadodara - Virar section (432 Rkm) and on the Delhi - Howrah route on

- Gaya  -  Sarmatanr  (93  Rkm)  and  Bardhaman  -  Howrah  section  (105 Rkm).
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).
17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
18. 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.
29. 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 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. No.   | 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 Nos.  | 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 Km                               | 34,428 Km                                       | More than 2 times                       |
| 2.   | Flyovers (RoBs)/Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.)                   | 4,148 Nos.                              | 13,808 Nos.                                     | More than 3 times                       |
| 3.   | Unmanned Level crossings (Nos.) on BG                       | As on 31.03.14: 8,948                   | 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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