Lok Sabha Question No. 5422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Speed of Vande Bharat Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Manna Lal Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026

## SPEED OF VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

## †5422. DR. MANNA LAL RAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the average operating speed of semi highspeed trains like Vande Bharat on various routes across the country at present;
- (b) whether it is a fact that due to loop points, crossings, turns and speed restrictions, the actual speed of the above trains falls below their fixed or planned speed;
- (c) if so, the details and main reasons therefor;
- (d) whether it is also a fact that Vande Bharat trains are running at lesser speed than their planned speed even on newly constructed or upgraded railway sections;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  present  maximum  speed  and  planned  speed indicating such sections; and
- (f) the details of the technical, structural or policy steps being taken by the Government to increase the average speed of trains like Vande Bharat?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) The Vande Bharat trains presently running over the Indian Railway network are Semi-High speed train services with design speed of 180 kmph and maximum operating speed of 160 kmph. The average speed of the train depends upon the geometry of the track, stoppages enroute, maintenance work in the section etc. The Vande Bharat train services have been charted at the Maximum Permissible Speed of the respective sections over which

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the trains are being operated.  Besides, speeding of trains is an on-going process on Indian Railways.

Strengthening, upgradation, modernisation and improvement  of track infrastructure  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process over  Indian  Railways. The  following  measures  are  being  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to  upgrade railway tracks:

- I. Modern  track  structure  consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails,  Wider and  heavier Pre-stressed  Concrete Sleepers (PSC) with elastic fastening, fan-shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers and H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges are being used while carrying out primary track renewals.
- II. The  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weldable  CMS  Crossings  are  being used in turnout renewal works.
- III. Supply  of  260m  long  rail  panels  have  been  increased  to  avoid welding of joints, thereby improving safety and riding quality.
- IV. Thick Web Switch Expansion Joints are being used in place of earlier Conventional/Improved SEJs.
- V. Adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e.  Flash  Butt Welding.
- VI. Adoption  of  mechanized  system  for  track  maintenance  using  high output  plain  tampers  and  points  &  crossing  tampers  for  improved maintainability & reliability of track.
- VII. Deployment  of state-of-the-art modern  machines  including Rail Grinding Machines to further improve asset reliability.
- VIII. Mechanisation  of track laying activities through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc.
- IX. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates for enhancing safety at LC gates.

- X. Use  of  advanced  Phased  Array  technology  of  testing  of  rail  and welds.
- XI. Deployment  of  Integrated  Track  Monitoring  Systems  (ITMS)  and Oscillation Monitoring  System  (OMS) for comprehensive  health assessment to ascertain optimal maintenance requirements.
- XII. Adoption of portable Track Measuring Trolley for continuous recording of track parameters in yards.
- XIII. Using web enabled Track Management System (TMS) for integration and data analytics of the track inspection records received through various sources to enable precise maintenance inputs.

As  a  result  of  above  measures,  there  has  been  significant  increase  in speed  potential  of  the  tracks.  The  details  of  speed  potential  of  railway tracks during 2014 vis-a-vis 2026 are as under:

| Sectional Speed (kmph)   | 2014     | 2014   | 2026 (up to Feb'26)   | 2026 (up to Feb'26)   |
|--------------------------|----------|--------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
|                          | Track Km | %      | Track Km              | %                     |
| 130 & above              | 5,036    | 6.3    | 23,713                | 22.4                  |
| 110 - 130                | 26,409   | 33.3   | 62,036                | 58.7                  |
| < 110                    | 47,897   | 60.4   | 19,922                | 18.9                  |
| Total                    | 79,342   | 100    | 1,05,671              | 100                   |

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