Indian Railways reports improved train punctuality over the past eight years

Key facts

• Indian Railways' train punctuality improved from 69.2% in 2018-19 to 77.43% in 2025-26, with 77.11% recorded so far in 2026-27, according to Ministry of Railways data shared via PTI.
• Punctuality has remained above 77% over the last three financial years, and the Ministry refuted social media claims of declining performance as misleading.
• Punctuality is measured by trains arriving at destination stations within the prescribed time limit, per a PIB March 2026 release.
• During 2025-26 up to February, 24 railway divisions recorded punctuality above 90% and 19 divisions achieved between 80% and 90%.
• Improvements are attributed to better monitoring, timetable rationalisation, maintenance planning and infrastructure upgrades, supported by digital systems such as the Integrated Coaching Management System (ICMS), National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and Control Office Application.
• Comparisons with Covid-19 years (2020-21 and 2021-22) are considered inappropriate benchmarks because significantly fewer trains operated then.