Indian Railways say safety is a key focus, pointing to a low accident rate over the years. "This question [on safety] is arising because there has been one incident now. But if you see the data, you will see that there have been no major accidents for years," a railways ministry spokesperson said.
Although an estimated 32 people die every day in railway accidents – either by falling off or coming under trains – Indian Railways say they are on track to improve their safety record. The number of accidents per million train-kilometres, a measure of safety, has fallen to 0.03 in 2021-22 from 0.10 in 2013-14.
Quality of railroad infrastructure, 1(low) - 7(high), 2019: The average for 2019 based on 101 countries was 3.61 points. The highest value was in Japan: 6.8 points and the lowest value was in Albania: 1.2 points. The indicator is available from 2009 to 2019.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that ten years ago, Railways reported 171 accidents per year which has come down to 40 per year now. Over the last five years, 351 persons died and 970 were injured in 200 consequential railway accidents, data shared by the Indian Railways from 17 railway zones reveal.
Aside from regular everyday services, Indian Railways also operate a number of luxurious private tourist trains. With comfortable cabins, bar carriages and fine dining, these luxury trains are the ultimate way for the rail enthusiast to see India.
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Are there nice trains in India?
Considered to be one of the most luxurious trains not only in India but in the entire world, The Maharajas' Express is your ticket to a whimsical world of royal luxury and exclusive experiences.
In an AC Chair Car or AC1 or AC2 sleeper on an express it's safe, civilised, inexpensive & comfortable with all seats & berths reserved. Even journeys such as Mumbai to Delhi or Delhi to Jaisalmer can be made time-effectively by overnight sleeper, centre to centre, saving a hotel bill.
Despite efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents happen every year. From 2017 to 2021, there were more than 100,000 train-related deaths in India, according to a 2022 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau.
Bihar train disaster, train wreck that killed hundreds of people on June 6, 1981, when a passenger train derailed on a bridge and plunged into the Baghmati River in the state of Bihar, northern India. The passenger train was moving from Mansi to Saharsa when seven of the train's nine cars fell into the river.
One of the primary reasons for train derailments is the poor maintenance of tracks and infrastructure. Many of the railway tracks in India are old and outdated, leading to wear and tear that significantly increases the risk of derailments.
For over 60 years, Japan's Shinkansen, or bullet train, has set the global gold standard in high-speed rail — with a perfect safety record. Since its launch in 1964, more than 10 billion passengers have ridden the network without a single fatality from a crash or derailment.
For the On Time punctuality measure, the percentage of recorded station stops arrived at 'on time' (early or less than one minute after the scheduled time) in Great Britain was 68.1% in the latest quarter (1 January to 31 March 2025).
Eurostar is the worst-performing rail service on the continent and Germany's Deutsche Bahn is one of the least reliable, according to a ranking of 27 European operators.
There can be several reasons for this such as infrastructure problems, weather issues, heavy traffic, technical glitches and others. It has been observed that the number of late arrival of trains increases during the winter days. The speed of trains for various sections is fixed.
If you look at fatalities per billion miles traveled, airplanes are clearly safer. If you look at fatalities per trip, trains are almost six times safer! But what is clear is that both modes of transportation are extremely safe compared to buses and cars.
Inconsistent allocation of slack time in train timetables and the influence of Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSR) and Permanent Speed Restrictions (PSR) also affect the speed of trains. Furthermore, the utilitarian approach in the development of older trains has had a negative impact on their speed and efficiency.
In Feb, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted in the Rajya Sabha that the average number of train accidents has dropped from 171 per year between 2004-14 to 71 per year between 2014-23.
According to NCRB data, in the past 10 years, more than 2.6 lakh people have died due to train-related incidents. The majority of the deaths are happening because people are being either run over by trains or they are falling from trains.
Offensive articles, explosive, dangerous, inflammable articles and empty gas cylinders, dead poultry, and game, acids and other corrosive substance are not permitted to be booked as luggage.
Statistically, public transportation is much safer than driving. According to the UK Department for Transport, public transport has a far lower rate of accidents than private cars. Trains are operated by trained professionals who follow strict safety standards, reducing the risk of accidents.
First Class AC coaches provide ultimate cleanliness and safety because railway authorities always maintain the coaches in the washrooms of the coaches. Apart from that, there are multiple CCTV cameras that provide ultimate safety and comfort.
Opt for loose, comfortable clothing, such as sweatpants, leggings or soft cotton clothes. Consider layering up, as temperatures can fluctuate between stations and throughout the night. Don't forget to pack a light jacket or sweater, as train carriages can sometimes feel chilly.
Train travel is generally safe in India. India has the third largest railway network in the world. Accidents and on-board fires can occur due to aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, overcrowding, and operator errors. These incidents have caused deaths and serious injuries.
International Users can book tickets under Foreign Tourist Quota upto 365 days in advance. For bookings done within current Advance Reservation Period (ARP), berths will be allocated at the time of booking.
