Increase In Train Accidents, Decline In Punctuality And Reduced Freight Train Speed This Year: Railways Performance Report

The Indian Railways has witnessed an increase of train accidents, track failures, electric-loco failures, wagon defects and decline in punctuality in 2023.

According to the Indian Railways train operations and maintenance performance data, with total 14 consequential accidents in 2023-24, compared to nine during 2022-23 (upto 6 August), the train mishaps are up by 55 per cent over last financial year during the same time.

The report has highlighted the 2 June, 2023 accident at Bahanaga Bazar station of Kharagpur division of South-Eastern Railways as a major concern.

Besides, there is a decrease in freight train speed, as per the performance data.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety in its report has pointed out the wrong maintenance and project execution practices of Indian Railways (signal and telecommunication department) as reasons responsible for the one of the worst accident of 21st century till now.

The performance data has also taken note of the decline in the punctuality rate up to 13 August, 2023.

According to the data, punctuality of mail express train is less by 11 per cent from the 84 per cent last year, during the same period.

The Railways has attributed to increased asset failures, more trains, and construction works as main reasons for the fall in punctuality rate.

Besides, track failures/defects had also increased by 9.9 per cent and signal failures increased by 21.2 per cent with total 29,578 failures up to 13 August 2023.

Passenger-carrying train coach failures has increased to 3,173, while freight train wagon defects increased to 8,468.

According to the performance report, the trend reflects that maintenance and reliability of assets have deteriorated and proper maintenance protocols are to be followed. Fund availability for maintenance is also an issue to be resolved.

The Railways has carried 558.4 million ton during 2023-24 upto 13 August 2023 compared to 551.8 MT in 2022-23 during same period — growth is less than the budgeted growth of 6 per cent.

The speed of freight train, as per the performance data, has decreased by 15.24 per cent. Average freight train speed is 27.48 kmph during 2023-24, compared to 32.42 kmph last year.

Freight train speed including yarding/stabling reduced to 16.89 kmph from 18.85 kmph.

The Railways maintains that because of the special focus on the track maintenance, the speed of the train has decreased.