'Sharp decline in train accidents from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25': Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday claimed that there has been a sharp decline in accidents on Indian Railways, with the number of “consequential train accidents” dropping from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25, and further to just 10 in 2025-26 till November.

Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 1,711 consequential train accidents were recorded, making it an average of 171 per year, the Minister said in his written answer in Lok Sabha.

Insisting that significant increase in investment and the adoption of modern technology helped to reduce accidents, he said Accidents Per Million Train Kilometre (APMTKM) has declined from 0.11 in 2014-15 to 0.03 in 2024-25, which is an improvement of nearly 73 per cent.

Funds for safety-related activities has been enhanced from Rs 39,463 crore in 2014-15 to over Rs 1.16 lakh crore in 2025-26.

The Minister further said that the high-tech "Kavach" safety system, adopted in July 2020, has played a major role in reducing accidents.

Major infrastructure upgradation including electrical and electronic interlocking systems taken place as well.

Vaishnaw said a web-based online monitoring system to track assets and maintenance planning has further strengthened preventive safety mechanisms.