Railways added 653 speed restrictions in H1FY23, but removed just 184

This comes despite ministry's aim of reducing restrictions to raise average speed

In the first half of financial year 2022-23 (H1FY23), the Ministry of Railways added over thrice the number of permanent speed restrictions than it got rid of, the national transporter’s data shows. This comes even as the Indian Railways plans to roll out semi-high-speed and high-speed trains across the country.

While the Railways has aimed to reduce sectional temporary and permanent speed restrictions, in H1, zonal authorities added 653 new restrictions and removed just 184. At present, there are over 7,000 restrictions on the network.

Permanent speed restrictions are typically imposed in areas approaching sharp curves or crossovers, or those with structures close to the track or dense pedestrian traffic in the area. Level crossings are also a major cause of these restrictions, although the railways has eliminated most of such crossings on its broad-gauge network. There are also ecological factors involved such as unstable trackbeds and flooding possibility. Areas prone to frequent cattle hits may also see this restrictions.

The issue has gained prominence as the national transporter is looking to introduce Vande Bharat trains that can reach speeds of 220 kilometres per hour (kmph). However, even with the increased speeds, experts worry that these trains may remain on the slow track due to unnecessary speed restrictions.

At present, the fastest Vande Bharat train runs along the Delhi-Varanasi route, and has an average speed of 95 kmph. As the Centre looks to expand this service to the entire rail network, it is looking to raise major sectional speeds to a minimum of 110 kmph and optimally to 130 kmph.

“Speeds of 160 kmph for Vande Bharat will not be possible before adequate fencing infrastructure is in place,” a senior Railways official said. The ministry is looking to place boundary walls across vulnerable stretches on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes.

Sources in the Railways said the issue was brought up by top officials of the railway board and the ministry had begun a critical review of all restrictions imposed this financial year. Officials have also been told to expedite the removal of these restrictions.

The national transporter has reportedly deferred the deadline for meeting the targets set out under the Mission Raftaar by two years. Under the plan, the ministry aims to increase the average speed of mail and express trains to 75 kmph and freight trains to 50 kmph. As of October, the average speed of freight trains was 16 per cent higher than last year. According to ministry estimates, the average speed of freight trains is close to 19 kmph,  including yarding and stabling time.

Meanwhile, lax monitoring has led to the imposition of many temporary speed restrictions. A large number of such restrictions older than a month have been left pending on the railways network. Among these, the South Central Railway and East Central Railway have the highest restrictions — nearly 2,300 in the two zones.

In April 2022, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pulled up the ministry for failing to increase mobility outcomes despite having spent Rs 2.5 trillion over the past decade.