Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that Indian Railways has substantially enhanced its track speed potential over the last decade through major infrastructure upgrades. These include stronger 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H Beam sleepers and modern track renewal and maintenance machines. Owing to these improvements, more than 78 percent of railway tracks are now capable of supporting sectional speeds of 110 kmph and above.
Rail Network Expansion Powers Higher Speed Capability Nationwide
A comparison of track speed potential between 2014 and 2025 highlights the scale of progress. In 2014, over 60 percent of India’s tracks were restricted to speeds below 110 kmph, but this has fallen to just over 21 percent in 2025. Conversely, tracks capable of handling speeds of 110–130 kmph have more than doubled, now covering over 56 percent of the network. Most notably, tracks designed for speeds of 130 kmph and above have increased nearly fivefold—from 5,036 km in 2014 to 23,010 km in 2025. During this period, total track length also expanded significantly from 79,342 km to 105,672 km, reflecting large-scale network expansion.
The minister also highlighted the performance of Vande Bharat trains, which currently operate as semi-high-speed services across the country. These trains are built with a design speed of 180 kmph and a maximum operating speed of 160 kmph, but their actual average speed depends on track geometry, the number of stoppages, and maintenance activity on specific sections.
New Vande Bharat Sleeper Promises Enhanced Long-Distance Comfort
In a key update, Vaishnaw announced that the first prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset has now been manufactured. Following extensive field trials, the inaugural sleeper rake has entered the commissioning phase, promising enhanced comfort and long-distance travel capability for passengers in the coming years.
Summary:
Indian Railways has significantly boosted track speed potential through major upgrades, with 78% of tracks now supporting 110 kmph and above. High-speed-ready tracks have risen fivefold, and total track length has expanded. Vande Bharat trains continue semi-high-speed operations, while the new sleeper prototype has entered commissioning, promising improved long-distance travel.
