SRINAGAR: Indian Railways has reported a dramatic fall in consequential train accidents, attributing the improvement to intensified security coordination with State Police and major technological upgrades across the network.
Official data show accidents have dropped from 135 in 2014–15 to 31 in 2024–25, and further to 11 so far in 2025–26, marking a more than 90 percent decline over the decade.
The Railways said that every unusual incident is being thoroughly investigated, with State Police serving as the primary probe agency in cases involving suspected sabotage. All sabotage or track-tampering cases reported in 2023 and 2024 have resulted in FIRs, investigations and subsequent arrests, officials confirmed. Central agencies such as the CBI and NIA are involved when required.
To prevent obstruction and tampering, vulnerable locations are being jointly patrolled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), civil police and railway personnel. Special teams have been deployed to monitor high-risk stretches, intelligence sharing has been strengthened, and residents living near tracks are being sensitised about reporting suspicious activity.
State-level security committees chaired by Directors-General of Police are reviewing threats regularly, while RPF intelligence units have been tasked with closer surveillance of sabotage attempts.
Railways said sustained investment in safety has accelerated the decline in accidents. Expenditure on safety has nearly tripled—from Rs 39,463 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 1,16,470 crore in 2025–26. Modern signalling, track upgrades and anti-collision systems form the backbone of this improvement.
Key measures include electronic interlocking at 6,656 stations, interlocked level-crossing gates at 10,098 sites, complete track circuiting at 6,661 stations, and the deployment of nearly 26,000 fog safety devices, up from just 90 in 2014. The indigenous Kavach train-protection system has been upgraded and commissioned on major segments of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors and is now being rolled out across 15,512 route-km.
Track safety has improved through the use of longer rail panels, extensive ultrasonic flaw detection, mechanised renewals and improved welding technologies, resulting in a 90 percent decline in weld failures and a sharp reduction in rail fractures compared with 2013–14 figures.
Rolling stock modernisation, elimination of unmanned level crossings, enhanced bridge inspections and upgraded fire-safety systems in coaches have further strengthened operational safety.
Railways said the combined effect of policing, technology and preventive maintenance has led to one of the steepest accident reductions in two decades, with efforts continuing to tighten security and minimise risks on the national rail network.
