In a significant indicator of improving safety standards across India’s railway network, the number of train accidents has dropped dramatically to only 11 in the 2025–26 period up to November, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Presenting a written statement, Vaishnaw emphasized that this reduction reflects the government’s sustained commitment to making safety the top priority in railway operations. The data marks one of the sharpest downward trends in railway accidents in independent India’s history.

A Decade of Steady Decline

The minister noted that the number of consequential train accidents—those causing injury, loss of life, or serious damage—has fallen steeply over the last decade. In 2014–15, the Indian Railways recorded 135 such accidents. In contrast, by 2024–25 the number had reduced to 31, and in the ongoing 2025–26 period the figure has fallen even further to 11 as of November.

According to Vaishnaw, the ten-year statistics underscore the scale of progress achieved. Between 2004 and 2014, Indian Railways witnessed 1,711 consequential accidents—an average of over 170 per year. But successive reforms and safety initiatives since 2014 have brought this number down by more than 98 per cent.

The minister also highlighted a key global benchmark used to evaluate railway safety: accidents per million train kilometers. He stated that this metric has improved from 0.11 in 2014–15 to just 0.03 in 2024–25. This represents an improvement of nearly 73 per cent, signalling that India’s rail network has become significantly safer even as the total volume of train operations has increased.

Government’s Push Toward Zero-Accident Railways

Responding to members’ questions on whether the government has taken adequate measures to aim for zero accidents, Vaishnaw said that the substantial decline itself reflects the impact of the multi-year safety strategy. However, he also stressed that the government continues to take proactive steps to strengthen infrastructure, modernize systems, and minimize human error—the main cause of past accidents.

He explained that Indian Railways has consistently increased expenditure on safety-related works over the years. This includes infrastructure modernization, technological upgrades, elimination of vulnerable spots, track renewal, and enhanced staff training.

Upgrading Signalling Systems to Reduce Human Error

A major thrust of the safety program has been the widespread introduction of modern signalling systems. Vaishnaw informed the House that Electrical and Electronic Interlocking systems—designed to automate the coordination of points (track movement) and signals—have been installed at 6,656 stations across the country as of October 31, 2025. These systems reduce the need for manual intervention, thereby decreasing the probability of mistakes caused by human error.

In parallel, interlocking has also been extended to level crossing gates. As many as 10,098 level crossing gates have been equipped with interlocking technology to ensure safe train and road traffic movement. This is a crucial step, since unmanned or poorly regulated level crossings have historically been among the leading causes of railway accidents.

Another intervention is the complete track circuiting of stations, which ensures verification of track occupancy using electrical means. This mechanism has been implemented at 6,661 stations by the end of October 2025. Track circuiting plays a vital role in preventing collisions by confirming whether a particular track section is occupied.

Kavach: India’s Indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System

One of the most prominent safety technologies adopted in recent years is Kavach, the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. The minister highlighted that Kavach is being deployed in phased manner, with its latest iteration, Version 4.0, successfully commissioned on major national railway corridors.

Kavach 4.0 is operational on the Palwal–Mathura–Kota–Nagda section of the Delhi–Mumbai route, as well as on the Howrah–Bardhaman section of the Delhi–Howrah route—two of the busiest railway arteries in the country.

The system is designed to automatically prevent collisions by enforcing speed restrictions, applying brakes when signals are ignored, and ensuring safe train operations during low visibility conditions.

According to Vaishnaw, implementation is underway across the remaining sections of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes. In addition, Kavach rollout has been initiated across 15,512 route kilometers, covering the entirety of the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), Golden Diagonal (GD), High-Density Network (HDN), and other priority stretches.

The expansion of Kavach is expected to provide a robust safety net against potential collisions and significantly enhance the overall reliability of train operations.

Comprehensive Multi-Layered Safety Approach

Apart from signalling upgrades and technological interventions, the government has adopted an integrated multi-layered safety strategy. This includes:

• Critical track renewals to eliminate worn-out or vulnerable sections
• Strengthening of bridges, particularly older ones requiring reinforcement
• Deployment of ultrasonic flaw-detection equipment for early identification of track cracks
• Improved maintenance protocols for rolling stock
• 24×7 monitoring of railway operations through centralized control rooms
• Elimination or upgrade of unmanned level crossings across most zones

Vaishnaw emphasized that these measures collectively contribute to a safer and more efficient rail network.

Boost in Investments and Capacity Expansion

Another factor contributing to the reduction in accidents is the unprecedented increase in capital expenditure toward the railways’ modernization. Over the last decade, budgetary allocation for safety and infrastructure has risen substantially, allowing large-scale upgrades in tracks, electrification, and rolling stock.

The minister pointed out that such investments have not only improved safety but have also contributed to more reliable and timely train operations.

Encouraging Trends Amid Expanding Rail Network

Despite the reduction in accidents, Indian Railways continues to expand its network, operate more trains, and transport larger volumes of freight and passengers. The improved safety statistics therefore represent not just a reduction in absolute numbers but a significant improvement relative to the scale of operations.

For example, the sharp fall in accidents per million kilometers indicates that even as the network grows, the railways are becoming progressively safer.

A Safer Future for Indian Railways

Vaishnaw reiterated that the government will continue to dedicate resources, technology, and manpower to pursue the long-term vision of achieving zero accidents. With systems like Kavach, track circuiting, modernization of signalling, and relentless upgrades in infrastructure, the railways aim to minimize risks arising from both human and mechanical factors.

The minister’s statement in the Rajya Sabha highlighted that the progress achieved over the last decade is notable, but also that continuous investment and attention are required to maintain and further strengthen safety standards in the years to come.

As Indian Railways continues its journey toward transformation—through new technologies, improved infrastructure, and better operational oversight—the historic low in accidents provides both reassurance and a blueprint for future impr