New Delhi: More than 78% of railway tracks across India have now been upgraded to support train speeds of 110 kmph and above, marking a major transformation in the Indian Railways network over the past decade, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that the track upgrades include the use of 60 kg rails, broader base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, long rail panels, H-beam sleepers, and advanced track renewal and maintenance machinery.
He noted that the track length capable of handling speeds of 130 kmph and above has increased more than fourfold—from 5,036 km in 2014 to 23,010 km in 2025. This now accounts for 21.8% of the total track network, up from just 6.3% a decade ago.
Likewise, the track length suitable for speeds between 110 and 130 kmph has more than doubled—from 26,409 km in 2014 to 59,800 km in 2025. These now constitute 56.6% of the entire railway network.
As a result, the share of tracks where trains must run at speeds below 100 kmph has significantly reduced—from 47,897 km in 2014 to 22,862 km in 2025. Previously, about 60.4% of the network had speed limits below 100 kmph, but that figure now stands at just 21.6%, the minister added.
Vaishnaw also spoke about the Vande Bharat trains, stating that they are semi-high-speed services with a design speed of 180 kmph and a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph. However, the actual average speed depends on factors such as track geometry, number of stoppages, and ongoing maintenance work.
He further mentioned that the first prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train has been manufactured, and the first rake is currently undergoing commissioning based on feedback from extensive field trials.
With inputs from IANS