Indian Railways: An Overview of Growing Challenges and Opportunities

Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest railway networks, keeps over 19 million passengers moving daily across its vast 69,000-kilometre network. However, the system still leans heavily on British-era infrastructure that is now struggling under modern demands. This has led to serious issues regarding punctuality, safety, and efficiency.

Behind the Numbers: Punctuality Concerns

In March 2025, the Ministry of Railways claimed that most divisions maintained punctuality above 90%. However, the real situation on the ground tells a different story. Recent data shows a decline in the punctuality index. The main culprits? Reliance on diesel engines, frequent signal failures, and chronic congestion.

The data from 2023-’24 indicates that Indian Railways transported 6.9 billion passengers. Despite this impressive figure, the operational challenges are glaring. Since April 2023 alone, diesel locomotive failures have caused punctuality losses in over 4,400 incidents, averaging about five delays daily. When a diesel engine fails, it often stops the train right on the tracks, creating a blockade until a relief engine can arrive.

As Sushil Luthra, a former chief administrative officer at Indian Railways, explains, diesel locomotives lack a backup power system. In contrast, newer trains like the Vande Bharat have distributed power across their coaches. This means that even if one unit fails, the train can still keep moving.

Aging Infrastructure and Congestion

The crux of the problem lies in the outdated infrastructure. Alok Verma, a railways expert, points out that “Indian Railways is still relying on British-era infrastructure, and not enough new track capacity has been added.” Over 80% of major railway routes are currently running beyond their intended capacity. Alarming statistics reveal that at least 22% of these routes operate at over 150% capacity, creating a systemic bottleneck.

Major junctions like Bengaluru City Railway Station exemplify this congestion, where covering just 30 km can take up to two hours. Despite a 26% increase in electric locomotives since 2023, the reliance on diesel continues to pose challenges. According to railway ministry data, about 15% of the passenger services and 20% of freight services still depend on diesel engines.

Improving Average Speeds

Interestingly, while there is potential for higher speeds on certain tracks, the average speed of most trains hovers disappointingly between 55-70 km/h, despite some tracks being capable of speeds up to 130-160 km/h. Raghuram remarks that increasing the average speed is more vital than merely focusing on maximum speeds. To do this, train halts need minimising, and station designs must support efficient overtaking.

The “Mission Raftaar” initiative aims to double freight train speeds and raise Mail and Express train speeds. However, achieving these ambitious goals has been hindered by permanent speed restrictions, which are based on track conditions. The lack of sufficient infrastructure reinforcements continues to be a stumbling block for the initiative.

Maintenance and Safety Challenges

A critical issue is the maintenance of tracks and rolling stock. The railway network’s congestion hampers the essential maintenance that ensures safety. A cycle of inadequate maintenance leads to more accidents and a loss of traveler trust, making the railway system increasingly unreliable.

Previous audits have highlighted alarming trends, such as significant shortfalls in deploying advanced infrastructure for track renewal. Between 2017 and 2021, over half of planned inspections were missed, leading to disasters. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has reported a 400% surge in locomotive failures over the last few years, underscoring the need for immediate reform.

Despite a rising budget allocation for safety, accidents continue owing to a lack of adequate staff training, especially regarding new technologies. Many operational procedures still reflect methodologies from the colonial era.

Conclusion

Indian Railways is at a crossroads. While it has the potential to be a world-class transport system, its dependence on outdated infrastructure and diesel locomotives presents significant challenges. Improvements in punctuality and safety require not just investment but also innovative planning and execution. Until these systemic issues are addressed, the promise of a more efficient and reliable railway system will remain unfulfilled.

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