Indian Railways Doubles High-Speed Track Coverage In 11 Years

New Delhi, Jan 19: The length of Indian Railways tracks permitting train speeds of 110 kmph and above has more than doubled over the last 11 years, increasing from 31,445 km in 2014 to 84,244 km at present, according to the Ministry of Railways.

In percentage terms, high-speed tracks now account for nearly 80 per cent of the total rail network, up from about 40 per cent in 2014, enabling faster and more efficient train operations across the country.

The Ministry said Indian Railways has made sustained investments in track infrastructure and safety upgrades, resulting in safer, faster and more reliable rail services nationwide.

During FY 2024–25, track renewal was completed over 6,851 track kilometres. In the current financial year 2025–26, more than 7,500 km of renewal work is underway, while renewal of 7,900 km is planned for 2026–27, highlighting continued focus on asset reliability and safety.

To enhance safety on high-speed sections, Indian Railways has prioritised fencing along railway tracks to curb cattle run-over incidents and trespassing. Around 15,000 km of fencing has been provided so far.

Turnout renewal has also gathered pace. In 2024–25, the railways installed 7,161 thick web switches and 1,704 weldable CMS (Cast Manganese Steel) crossings. In 2025–26, over 8,000 thick web switches and more than 3,000 weldable CMS crossings are being installed.

Mechanised deep screening of ballast, crucial for maintaining track stability and ride quality, has been carried out consistently. While 7,442 track kilometres were deep screened in 2024–25, more than 7,500 track kilometres are being covered in 2025–26, the Ministry said.