Summary - Railways in India 2026

Indian Railways (IR) is on a transformative journey, driven by capacity and capex expansion, alongside capacity augmentation, growing network utilisation, higher speeds and advanced operations.
IR is also expanding asset monetisation and private participation, moving beyond conventional PPP models.
On the technology front, the network-wide deployment of advanced signalling, safety and traffic management systems, and AI-driven asset maintenance is driving the next phase of modernisation.
Massive track upgradation is under way for the operation of modern high-speed trains. Currently, more than 23,000 track km supports speeds above 130 kmph, while nearly 82,000 track km can handle speeds up to 130 kmph. These upgrades are essential for trainsets and to improve ride quality and punctuality.
The network has achieved near 100 per cent electrification, supported by the progressive shift towards renewable energy integration and the use of energy-efficient equipment. Work is under way on piloting hydrogen-powered trains. IR has set a target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
There has been consistent progress under the station redevelopment programme, with over 170 big and small stations upgraded so far.
India’s first high-speed (HSR) rail project – the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor – is targeted for completion by 2029. The government has planned seven new corridors, with expected investments of around Rs 16 trillion.
The rolling stock segment is also undergoing a significant transformation. The focus has moved from merely replacing ageing assets to developing faster, safer, energy-efficient and globally competitive rail vehicles, increasingly designed and manufactured within the country.
IR aims to increase rail’s modal share in freight movement to 45 per cent by 2030. The development of the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) network is critical to enhancing the system’s freight efficiency. Recently, the trucks-on-trains service has been introduced under the DFC framework to give impetus to the multimodal freight ecosystem.

The conference aims to discuss sector progress, key achievements, emerging trends and future focus areas for rail infrastructure development in India. It will also provide a platform for key industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices and showcase noteworthy projects, latest technologies and innovations.