International Railroad Discussion > Indian Rail Safety

Hope this isn't too dumb of a question. There seem to be a good number of passenger train accidents in India resulting in much carnage. Many seem to be two trains on the same track.  We read about them frequently compared to other countries. As an extension from a Darjeeling steam tour, I'm considering taking the train from Delhi to Agra for some tourist bits. This is supposedly a "high speed" train. Any info on if this line is protected by modern technology to avoid what just happened in Italy with human error (using telephones to clear trains) resulted in a head on collision. Not that I wouldn't do it regardless. Just wondering. Thanks in advance.

If you can get a seat in the middle of the train.  They have rather discriptve accounts of accidents on the Indian web site.  Have fun.

https://factly.in/indian-railway-accidents-statistics-review-last-5-years/

Delhi to Agra is all multi-track railroad - minimum of 2 tracks, 4 tracks in places.  So no single track working under normal circumstances.  Italians and Germans recently both had head-ons on single track, so it can happen anywhere. 

dwatry Wrote:
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> Delhi to Agra is all multi-track railroad -
> minimum of 2 tracks, 4 tracks in places.  So no
> single track working under normal circumstances. 
> Italians and Germans recently both had head-ons on
> single track, so it can happen anywhere. 

​As well as in Panhandle, TX. 

While in India Anderson may wish he had an Amtrak car  or a Subway Sandwichs which he says it junk !

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> This is supposedly a "high
> speed" train.

There are two fast trains between Delhi and Agra, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express and the Gatimaan Express. Both are electrically powered and average about 60 mph between Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin in the case of the Gatimaan) and Agra. Consist will be the German designed (by LHB) stock.

YearCollisionsDerailmentsLevel Crossing AccidentsFire in trainsMisc. accidents*TotalTrain accidents per million train Kms.2009-1098070241650.172010-1157853211390.142011-1295561421310.122012-1364858801200.112013-1445251731170.10

Realistically this is a low "kill ratio" compared with 1 billion people.....

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Hope this isn't too dumb of a question. There seem
> to be a good number of passenger train accidents
> in India resulting in much carnage. Many seem to
> be two trains on the same track.  We read about
> them frequently compared to other countries. As an
> extension from a Darjeeling steam tour, I'm
> considering taking the train from Delhi to Agra
> for some tourist bits. This is supposedly a "high
> speed" train. Any info on if this line is
> protected by modern technology to avoid what just
> happened in Italy with human error (using
> telephones to clear trains) resulted in a head on
> collision. Not that I wouldn't do it regardless.
> Just wondering. Thanks in advance.

I don't know if still allowed due to security concerns, but try to visit the Taj Mahal before dawn for the sunrise.  That beautiful structure turns from pink to dazzling white as the sun rises.