Railways’ safety best in 57 years

new delhi — The railways has maintained the best safety record in 2017-2018 fiscal in over five decades, according to official figures.

As of March 30, 73 accidents were reported across the railway network, compared to 104 in the previous fiscal, the lowest in 57 years. “The main reason behind the improvement is track renewal. The railways carried out renewal of 4,405km of old rails in 20172018. This is the highest ever progress of rail renewal and exceeds the target of 4,400km kept for the year,” a senior official of the ministry said.

In fact, the previous best track renewal was 4,175km in 20042005, when the transporter was given a rehabilitation plan with a fund of Rs170 billion.

This fiscal has also recorded the longest ever distance travelled by trains. In 1960-61, trains collectively travelled just 388.1 million train kilometres as compared to 1,170.7 million train kilometres in 2017-2018. Train kilometre is the

How railways improved its record

> Only 73 accidents were reported across the railway network as of March 30, compared to 104 in the previous fiscal, the lowest in 57 years > In 1960-61, the number of accidents registered was 2,131. It came down to 840 in 1970-71, but shot up to 1,013 in 1980-81. In 1990-91 it recorded 532 accidents unit of measure of distance which corresponds to the movement of a train over one kilometre.

Significantly, despite trains having travelled an additional 74 million train kilometres in 20172018 as compared to the last five years, accidents have remained at an all time low.

As far as accidents are concerned, while in 1960-61, the number was 2,131, it came down to 840 in 1970-71, in 1980-81 it stood at 1,013, in 1990-91 it recorded and in 2010-11 there were 141 such cases > The casualty figures also have gone down. In 2016-17, a total of 607 people were injured or killed in train accidents, in 20172018, the number stood at 254 > It also recorded the longest ever distance travelled by trains during the same period 532 accidents, in 2010-11 there were 141 such cases, as per the figures.

The casualty figures also have gone down. In 2016-17, 607 people were injured or killed in train accidents, in 2017-2018, the number stood at 254.

While derailments have come down from 78 in 2016-2017 to 54 in 2017-2018, accidents at level crossings stood at 13 in 2017-2018 as compared to 30 the previous year. — PTI