Parliamentary Panel Raises Alarm Over Stagnant Train Speeds in India
A Parliamentary committee has voiced significant concerns regarding the persistent lack of increase in the speeds of long-distance trains across India over the years. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in its report titled 'Punctuality and Travel Time in Train Operations in Indian Railways', which was tabled in Parliament on February 4, 2026, highlighted this critical issue.
Committee's Puzzlement Over Speed Stagnation
The PAC report explicitly states, "The Committee notes that while High-speed / Super Fast and Express trains utilize the same tracks, it fails to understand why the speed of long-distance trains covering over 2,000 kilometers has not increased over the years." This observation underscores a puzzling disparity in performance within the national rail network.
Historical Targets and Repeated Failures
The committee further detailed that targets for achieving higher speeds were established on multiple occasions between 1960 and 2016-17. Specifically, goals were set to reach 160 kmph for coaching trains and 100 kmph for freight trains. Despite constant revisions to these timelines, none of these objectives have been met to date, as noted in the audit observations cited by the PAC.
Mission Raftaar's Shortcomings
In 2016-17, Indian Railways launched 'Mission Raftaar', an initiative aimed at doubling the average speed of freight trains from 25 kmph to 50 kmph and increasing the average speed of Mail/Express trains from 50 kmph to 75 kmph by the end of 2021-22. However, the report reveals that the actual achievements fell far short: freight trains averaged only 23.6 kmph, while Mail/Express trains reached just 50.6 kmph. This indicates a significant gap between planned improvements and on-ground realities.
Recommendations for Future Improvements
The parliamentary panel acknowledged that the Ministry of Railways has undertaken various steps to enhance train speeds. However, it pointed out that the absence of an integrated approach across all zonal railways has been a major hindrance. To address this, the committee has recommended that Indian Railways develop a comprehensive plan involving all zonal divisions to achieve desired increases in average and maximum speeds for both passenger and freight trains, ensuring that safety standards are not compromised.
The PAC expressed expectations for incremental progress, suggesting that average speeds of express trains should increase by 5 to 10 kmph every few years. Such improvements would significantly reduce travel times for long-distance journeys, enhancing overall efficiency and passenger convenience.
