New Delhi, December 12, 2025— Passenger safety on Indian Railways has reached a record high, with consequential train accidents dropping sharply from an annual average of 171 between 2004 and 2014 to just 11 so far in 2025–26, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday.
Officials credited the dramatic improvement to sustained investments, modern technology and stricter safety protocols. Safety-related expenditure has nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from ₹39,463 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,16,470 crore in the current fiscal year.
The ministry highlighted a major expansion in fog safety devices, which are vital during low-visibility winters. Their numbers have soared from only 90 units in 2014 to 25,939 in 2025, marking a staggering 288-fold increase. In the past four months, the Railways also completed Centralised Electronic Interlocking and Track-Circuiting systems at 21 stations each, further tightening operational safety.
All locomotives are now equipped with Vigilance Control Devices to ensure loco pilots remain alert. Upgraded track structures, mechanised track-laying, longer welded rails and ultrasonic flaw detection tools have strengthened safety on the ground.
Security coordination has also deepened. Joint patrolling by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), state police and railway staff is being carried out in sensitive sections. Intelligence-sharing has intensified, with special teams monitoring high-risk zones and clearing any material that could be used for sabotage.
Authorities are also engaging with communities living near railway lines, warning them about the dangers of tampering with track components and urging them to report suspicious activity. State-Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) meetings, led by state police chiefs, have further boosted coordination among RPF, GRP and intelligence agencies. Bodies such as the NIA and CBI are roped in when required, while internal RPF intelligence wings—CIB and SIB—remain actively involved.
The ministry said these collective steps, combined with preventive maintenance, intensive staff training and advanced safety systems, have sharply reduced accidents. Consequential train mishaps have fallen from 135 in 2014–15 to 31 in 2024–25, and down to just 11 in 2025–26 so far.
Railway officials said the latest figures reflect the commitment to safer travel nationwide, with ongoing modernisation expected to strengthen the safety network even further.
