Jammu, April 27 -- More than 25,000 trains run across India every day.They carry more than 20 million passengers daily and move large quantities of coal, iron ore, grains, steel, cement and other commodities across a network of over 1,37,000 kilometres tracks.
The track is the foundation on which this entire system works. When it is in good shape, trains run safely at higher speeds. When it is not, the results range from speed restrictions and delays to safety risks. A cracked rail, a loose fitting or a clogged ballast bed can all affect how a train moves.
Keeping in view the importance of track, Indian Railways started a wide-ranging modernisation programme over a decade ago. The work covered track renewal using modern machines, testing ...