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Ministry of Railways | Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)
The Ministry of Railways’ Year End Review 2025 highlights a landmark year for India’s rail infrastructure, marked by the completion of 42 projects worth over ₹25,000 crore. Indian Railways has solidified its position as the world’s second-largest freight carrier, moving toward a 3,000 MT annual loading target by 2029-30. A critical safety milestone was the historic low in consequential accidents, achieved through the scaling of the indigenous Kavach system and AI-based alert tools for loco pilots.
Key operational and technological highlights include:
Amrit Bharat Mission: 155 stations have been fully modernized with airport-like facilities, including food courts and modern waiting areas, while work continues at 1,182 additional stations.
Fleet Modernization: Introduction of 13 new Amrit Bharat trains (bringing the total to 30) for low-cost, comfortable travel, alongside the imminent rollout of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper.
Massive Special Operations: To handle peak demand, Railways operated over 43,000 special train trips, including 17,000 trips specifically for the Maha Kumbh.
Connectivity & Resilience: Strengthening regional integration through new passenger and freight links to Kashmir and Mizoram, and the inauguration of the New Pamban Bridge for enhanced pilgrimage tourism.
Indigenous Growth: Aatmanirbhar Bharat was driven by record wagon production and the deployment of indigenous electric locomotives to meet both domestic and global demand.
What is the Kavach System? It is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent train collisions. By utilizing high-frequency radio communication and GPS, Kavach automatically applies brakes if a loco pilot fails to do so, prevents “Signal Passed at Danger” (SPAD) incidents, and provides real-time alerts in low-visibility conditions, ensuring a “zero-accident” safety standard for the network.
Policy Relevance and Future Roadmap
The 2025 review signals a strategic shift from basic connectivity to "Intelligent and High-Capacity Mobility. The following future roadmap and upcoming milestones are set to impact India's rail landscape over the next decade:
Rolling Stock & High-Speed Travel
Vande Bharat Sleeper Rollout: The first Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are all set to become operational in early 2026 to revolutionize long-distance overnight travel.
Expansion of Vande & Amrit Bharat: The country can expect 200 new Vande Bharat trains and 100 Amrit Bharat trains over the next 2 to 3 years to serve both premium and common-man travel needs.
Hydrogen Train Launch: Indian Railways is likely to roll out its first Hydrogen-powered train in 2026, following successful testing of power car prototypes.
High-Speed Rail Vision: India aims to develop a 7,000 km high-speed rail network by 2047, supporting speeds of 250 km/h, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor being the flagship project.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Amrit Bharat Station Saturation: While 155 stations have been modernized, work is actively progressing to complete the redevelopment of the remaining 1,182 stations.
Doubling City Capacity: A major initiative has been launched to double the number of originating trains in 48 major cities (including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru) by 2030 through phased upgrades of platforms and terminals.
North East Integration: Strategic rail links to Kashmir and Mizoram will be further strengthened to transform regional trade and provide all-weather access to remote areas.
Freight & Economic Growth
Mission 3,000 MT: Indian Railways is inching towards a massive annual loading target of 3,000 Million Tonnes (MT) by 2029-30, with an interim goal of touching 1.6 billion tonnes by the end of the current fiscal year.
Freight Share Target: The long-term goal is to increase the Railways’ share in domestic freight transport to 45% by 2030-31 to reduce national logistics costs.
Safety & Sustainability
Kavach 100% Coverage: The indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection system is planned for 100% network coverage by 2030 to ensure a “zero-accident” railway system.
Net Zero Carbon 2030: The Railways aims to become a Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030, driven by 100% electrification (target 99.2% already reached) and the installation of 20 GW of solar capacity.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the transition to the '3,000 MT Loading Target' impact India’s logistics cost as a percentage of GDP, and what regulatory frameworks are needed to incentivize private sector participation in the new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals?
Follow the full review here: Ministry of Railways: Year End Review 2025