New Delhi, March 19: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that there has been a substantial decrease in the number of accidents associated with Indian Railways in recent years, with a nearly 90% reduction in serious incidents.
In a written response in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the minister emphasized that safety remains the top priority for Indian Railways, leading to remarkable improvements in operational safety through continuous measures.
He noted that the number of serious rail accidents dropped from 135 in 2014-15 to just 14 by February 2026.
Data shared by the minister revealed that between 2004-05 and 2013-14, there were 1,711 serious rail accidents, resulting in 904 fatalities and 3,155 injuries. In contrast, from 2014-15 to 2023-24, this figure decreased to 678 accidents, with 748 deaths and 2,087 injuries.
According to the report, there were 31 recorded accidents in 2024-25, leading to 18 deaths and 92 injuries, while 14 accidents occurred in 2025-26 (up to February), resulting in 16 fatalities and 28 injuries.
Vaishnaw attributed the decline in accidents to various safety initiatives, including improved track maintenance, modern signaling systems, and technological upgrades.
There has also been a significant increase in expenditure on safety activities, rising from ₹39,200 crores in 2013-14 to ₹1,17,693 crores in 2025-26, with an additional allocation of ₹1,20,389 crores for 2026-27.
To reduce human error, electronic interlocking systems have been installed at 6,665 stations, and interlocking arrangements have been made at over 10,153 level crossing gates.
Track circuiting has been implemented at 6,669 stations, aiding in confirming the presence of passengers on tracks through electrical means.
The minister also highlighted that the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, known as ‘Kavach,’ was adopted as a national system in 2020. The latest version of Kavach has been implemented on 1,452 kilometers of routes, including major corridors like Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Hawrah.
Vaishnaw concluded that ongoing investments in technology and infrastructure are helping Indian Railways enhance safety and reduce accidents.
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