According to recent Ministry of Railways data, about 54,600 km of railway tracks were renewed between 2014 and February 2026. Track renewal and upgrading are being undertaken based on factors including the age, traffic load and condition of the track.
The expansion of higher-speed track infrastructure has been significant. In 2014, only 5,036 track km, or 6.3% of the network, had a sectional speed potential of 130 kmph or above. By early August 2026, this had increased to 24,173 track km, accounting for 22.5% of the network.
This represents an almost five-fold increase from 2014 in the share of tracks in the 130 kmph-and-above category. At the same time, the length of track in the 110-130 kmph category rose from 26,409 km in 2014 to 62,036 km in February 2026. Taken together, more than 80% of the network had a sectional speed potential of 110 kmph or above.
Indian Railways attributes the improvement in speed potential to a range of track and maintenance measures, including the use of thicker rails and switches, longer welded rail panels, improved welding technology, mechanised track maintenance, rail-grinding machines and advanced systems for monitoring track condition.
Track inspection and maintenance data are also being integrated through the web-enabled Track Management System to improve maintenance planning.
Punctuality has also shown some improvement, but concerns remain. Earlier this year, Indian Railways said that overall punctuality stood at 73.62% in 2023-24, rose to 77.12% in 2024-25 and reached 77.24% in 2025-26 up to February 2026.
During the same period, 24 railway divisions recorded punctuality of more than 90%, while another 19 divisions recorded punctuality between 80% and 90%. Overall, however, only three railway zones recorded punctuality above 90% in 2025-26.
Railways has cited several measures behind the improvement, including real-time monitoring, timetable rationalisation, scientific analysis of train schedules, integrated maintenance blocks, high-capacity locomotives and advanced IT systems.
To tackle fog-related delays, 29,848 GPS-based Fog Safe Devices had been provided to locomotive pilots as of January 31, 2026. A Modified Semi-Automatic Stop Signal system has also been introduced for operations during poor visibility.
However, punctuality continues to face operational constraints. Indian Railways runs around 25,000 trains a day, with passenger, suburban, freight and other services sharing routes. Congestion on heavily used corridors, maintenance requirements, fog, path constraints, alarm-chain pulling, agitations, cattle run-over and other unforeseen events can affect train timings.
The ministry is also increasing network capacity through new lines, gauge conversion and doubling or multitracking projects.
Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains are capable of running at speeds of 160 kmph, but very few sections on the Indian Railways network allow for that operational speed. On most high-density routes, the maximum speed continues to be 130 kmph, and that too not throughout the route.
With the launch of Vande Bharat Express trains, the average speed is expected to improve since the train set allows for faster acceleration and deceleration. However, speed is not just a function of the train set. It also depends on factors such as track capability, signalling infrastructure and fencing on routes where open tracks can lead to cattle casualties at higher speeds.
Indian Railways is now looking to launch its first bullet train, which will run on a dedicated track, allowing for higher speeds. The expansion of higher-speed track infrastructure, alongside efforts to address operational constraints, remains central to the railway network's push for faster train services.
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