Indian Railways Records 80% Punctuality; Vande Bharat Achieves Full Occupancy, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Indian Railways achieved a punctuality rate of 77.12% for Mail and Express trains in 2024–25, which improved to about 80% between April and October 2025–26.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this data in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, emphasising sustained efforts to enhance train performance across the network.

Despite continuous improvements, Vaishnaw noted that several external and operational challenges impact the punctual running of trains. These include fog, route congestion, asset maintenance requirements, alarm chain pulling, public agitations, cattle run-overs, and other unpredictable events.

He stressed that Indian Railways proactively works to reduce delays while ensuring safety and operational reliability.

Vande Bharat Trains Achieve 100% Occupancy

Vaishnaw highlighted the growing popularity of the Vande Bharat Express, stating that its overall occupancy remains close to 100%. This reflects the strong demand for faster, modern, and comfortable travel options, reinforcing the government’s focus on semi-high-speed rail development.

The minister said India has fully designed and developed the new sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train.

Engineers have already built two rakes, and they are currently undergoing extensive trials or commissioning.

The sleeper variant will expand Vande Bharat operations to longer overnight routes, giving passengers greater comfort and shorter travel times.

Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Advancing

On the high-profile Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project, Vaishnaw confirmed that the 508-kilometre bullet train corridor is progressing with technical and financial support from the Government of Japan.

The project, India’s first high-speed rail line, is being executed in phases with significant civil works already underway.

Vaishnaw also addressed the prospects of future bullet train projects.

He explained that high-speed rail corridors require substantial investment, and decisions to initiate new projects depend on factors such as technical feasibility, economic viability, passenger demand, funding availability, and suitable financing mechanisms.

He emphasised that while India is committed to expanding high-speed rail, each proposal must undergo rigorous evaluation before approval.