Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 19: Train accidents on Indian Railways have declined sharply over the past decade, with consequential accidents falling by nearly 90 per cent, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the number of such accidents has dropped from 135 in 2014-15 to just 14 in 2025-26 (up to February 28), highlighting a significant improvement in operational safety.

Data shared by the government showed that between 2004-05 and 2013-14, Indian Railways recorded 1,711 consequential accidents, resulting in 904 deaths and 3,155 injuries. This number reduced to 678 accidents during 2014-15 to 2023-24, with 748 fatalities and 2,087 injuries.

In recent years, the trend has continued downward. In 2024-25, 31 accidents were reported, leading to 18 deaths and 92 injuries, while in 2025-26 so far, 14 accidents have resulted in 16 deaths and 28 injuries.

The minister attributed this improvement to sustained investments and safety-focused initiatives, including better track maintenance, modern signalling systems, and technological upgrades.

Spending on safety has seen a major increase, rising from Rs 39,200 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,17,693 crore in 2025-26, with a further allocation of Rs 1,20,389 crore planned for 2026-27.

To reduce human error, electronic interlocking systems have been installed at 6,665 stations, while over 10,153 level crossings are now equipped with interlocking. Additionally, track circuiting systems—used to detect train presence—have been implemented at 6,669 stations.

Vaishnaw also highlighted the rollout of Kavach, an indigenous automatic train protection system adopted nationally in 2020. The latest version has already been deployed across 1,452 route kilometres, including high-density corridors like Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah.

He emphasised that continued focus on technology and infrastructure upgrades will further strengthen safety and help reduce accidents across the rail network.