Vande Bharat Express: What Indian Railways plans to do to run new trains at higher speeds

Vande Bharat trains at higher speeds: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that safety fencing will be installed at vulnerable locations for Vande Bharat trains to operate at speeds between 110 kmph and 130 kmph. Additionally, safety fencing will be implemented along the entire track for speeds exceeding 130 kmph.
Vande Bharatis a semi-high speed train service capable of hitting speeds of up to 160 kmph.However,Indian Railways has not been able to operate these new age trains at such high speeds due to signalling, track infrastructure and fencing restrictions.
In response to a question from BJP MP Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi regarding the safety of railway tracks for Vande Bharat trains, the minister emphasized that safety is of utmost importance to the Indian Railways.According to a PTI report, Vaishnaw explained that Indian Railways has a well-defined system in place for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing tracks. This system includes measures such as utilizing modern track structures, regular patrolling of railway tracks, conducting ultrasonic flaw detection tests to identify any flaws in the rails, and mechanizing track maintenance, among others.
Safety fencing has been mandated at vulnerable locations for speeds above 110 kmph to 130 kmph, and along the entire track for speeds exceeding 130 kmph, as a minimum standard, he said.

Lodhi also inquired about incidents of obstruction by anti-social elements on the railway tracks used by Vande Bharat trains. From January to November 2023, four incidents of obstruction, where foreign objects were placed on the railway tracks by anti-social elements, have been reported. Appropriate legal action has been taken against the individuals involved in these cases, Vaishnaw responded.
He further added that the Railway Protection Force (RPF), in coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP), district police, and civil administration, undertakes various initiatives to ensure the safe operation of trains.

Regarding the introduction of new train services and the provision of stoppages for existing services, including Vande Bharat services, the minister clarified that these decisions are ongoing processes and are subject to factors such as traffic demand, operational feasibility, and resource availability.