New Delhi — Indian Railways is rapidly expanding its train services, but experts are raising concerns about the potential strain on the existing infrastructure. While the addition of new trains is improving connectivity, critics worry that without corresponding track expansion, the increased traffic could compromise safety and operational efficiency.
A Surge in New Train Services 🚂
Over the past year, Indian Railways has significantly increased its capacity. In the fiscal year 2024-25 and the beginning of 2025-26, a total of 182 new regular train services were launched to meet rising passenger demand and improve regional connectivity. This is a clear indicator of the government's push to enhance rail travel across the country.
For special occasions, the trend is even more pronounced. For the 2025 Ganpati festival, Indian Railways is running a record 380 special trains, the highest number ever for this event. This continues a steady increase, up from 305 trains in 2023 and 358 in 2024, demonstrating the railways' commitment to handling festive travel rushes.
Looking ahead, the fleet is set to become more modern with the introduction of new Vande Bharat trains. The production of nine new Vande Bharat Sleeper Train sets is expected by the end of 2025, which will upgrade long-distance overnight travel.
The Productivity and Safety Challenge 🚧
While the addition of more trains is a welcome development for passengers, it presents a significant challenge for the railway network. Many of India's railway lines are single-track, which have inherent capacity bottlenecks. On these lines, trains moving in opposite directions must wait at designated passing loops, causing delays. As more trains are added, these bottlenecks can lead to cascading delays, reducing overall productivity and the system's ability to stay on schedule.
Furthermore, increasing train frequency on these limited-capacity lines can lead to safety risks. Overcrowded lines strain signaling systems and require flawless coordination to prevent accidents. While Indian Railways is implementing advanced safety technologies like the Kavach train collision prevention system, these technologies can't fully compensate for a lack of physical infrastructure, such as double-tracking.
Mixed traffic, where different types of trains like passenger, freight, and high-speed trains share the same tracks, also poses safety challenges. The varying speeds and stopping distances of these trains require extremely precise scheduling to avoid accidents. Increased traffic density amplifies these risks.
The Path Forward 🛤️
Experts and railway officials acknowledge that the long-term solution lies in infrastructure expansion. The focus needs to be on projects like doubling and quadrupling tracks, creating dedicated freight corridors, and upgrading signaling systems. While new trains provide immediate relief for passenger demand, sustainable growth and improved safety depend on a robust and modern rail network that can handle the increased traffic.
