The large-scale upgradation carried out over the last decade includes the use of heavier 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H-beam sleepers, and the deployment of advanced track renewal and maintenance machines.
As a result of these interventions, the proportion of tracks supporting speeds of less than 110 kmph has declined from 60.4% in 2014 to just 21.6% in 2025. Conversely, tracks capable of supporting speeds between 110–130 kmph now make up 56.6% of the total network, up from 33.3% in 2014. Similarly, tracks supporting speeds of 130 kmph and above have risen sharply from just 6.3% to 21.8% in the same period. In absolute terms, the total railway network has expanded from 79,342 km in 2014 to 1,05,672 km in 2025.
The Vande Bharat trains, currently operating on the upgraded routes, are semi-high-speed services with a design speed of 180 kmph and an operational maximum of 160 kmph. Their average running speed, however, is influenced by track geometry, scheduled halts, and ongoing maintenance activities. The Railways has also rolled out the prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset, which is now undergoing commissioning following field trials.
