India’s Railways See Dramatic Safety Transformation, Accidents Plunge by Over 90%

India’s national railway network has achieved a monumental safety milestone. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reported a drastic reduction in train accidents this week. The data shows incidents fell from 135 in 2014-15 to just 11 in the current fiscal year up to November 2025. This represents an improvement of over 90%, marking a new era of safety for the world’s fourth-largest rail network.This remarkable progress follows sustained government investment and technological upgrades. Minister Vaishnaw presented the figures in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha. He emphasized that railway safety remains the administration’s unwavering top priority.

From 135 to 11: A Decade of Sustained Safety Gains

The scale of improvement is detailed in official statistics. According to PTI, consequential train accidents averaged 171 per year between 2004 and 2014. That number dropped sharply to 31 in the 2024-25 fiscal year.The current year’s tally of 11 accidents up to November shows the trend continuing downward. Another key metric, accidents per million train kilometers, has fallen by approximately 73%. It dropped from 0.11 in 2014-15 to just 0.03 in 2024-25.These numbers reflect a systemic overhaul of safety protocols. Spending on safety-related works has increased substantially over the last decade. The focus has been on eliminating human error and deploying advanced technology.

Kavach Systems and Network Upgrades Drive the Change

A multi-pronged strategy is behind the success. Minister Vaishnaw outlined several critical initiatives. Modern electrical interlocking systems are now installed at 6,656 stations to prevent signaling mistakes.The homegrown Kavach automatic train protection system is a cornerstone of the new safety architecture. Its latest version is already active on sections of the busy Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors. Expansion is ongoing across more than 15,000 route kilometers of major freight and passenger lines.Infrastructure modernization supports these technological pushes. About 60,000 kilometers of tracks have been electrified at a pace astonishing global observers. Additionally, nearly 35,000 kilometers of new tracks have been laid in the past eleven years.

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This data confirms a historic safety transformation for Indian Railways. The sustained decline in accidents highlights the effectiveness of targeted investment and innovation. It sets a new benchmark for rail operations nationwide.

A quick knowledge drop for you:

What is the “Kavach” system mentioned?

Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system. It prevents collisions by automatically applying brakes if a driver ignores signals or overspeeds. It is a key technology behind the recent safety improvements.

How many train accidents occurred last year?

In the 2024-25 fiscal year, Indian Railways recorded 31 consequential train accidents. This was already a major drop from the 135 incidents recorded a decade earlier in 2014-15.

What other safety measures were implemented?

Over 10,000 level crossing gates have been brought under interlocking for safety. Complete track circuiting, which detects train presence, is now at 6,661 stations. These measures significantly reduce human error risks.

Has railway infrastructure expanded recently?

Yes. Minister Vaishnaw stated nearly 35,000 km of new tracks were added in eleven years. Redevelopment work is also progressing at 1,300 stations, with 110 already completed.

Why is the accident reduction percentage so significant?

The reduction from an annual average of 171 accidents (2004-14) to just 11 so far this year is over 90%. It demonstrates the cumulative impact of massive safety spending and technology deployment over the past decade.