Three years ago, the Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express faced troubling safety issues. Collisions with cattle not only caused delays but also posed serious risks. To tackle this, the Western Railway introduced W-beam fencing along the 565 kilometers of the train route, leading to an impressive 81% drop in cattle run-overs.
After its launch in September 2022, the Vande Bharat train suffered repeated collisions, damaging its nose cone and threatening both passengers and animals. The introduction of W-beam fencing, commonly used on highways, provided a solution. This fencing runs from Mumbai to Gandhinagar and covers an additional 300 kilometers on the Rajdhani Express route from Vadodara to Nagda.
Here are some key statistics showing the impact of this initiative:
- Cattle run-over incidents dropped from 538 in 2022-23 to just 101 in 2024-25.
- In the current financial year, only 12 cases have been reported so far.
- Cattle deaths decreased as well, from 27 during the same period last year to only 12 this year.
Most of these incidents occurred in regions from Virar to Surat and Vadodara to Geratpur, areas surrounded by villages where cattle are common. In 2022-23, 302 out of 538 cattle deaths were reported here. In contrast, the numbers fell to 48 and 37 respectively in 2024-25.
Elevated tracks between Surat and Vadodara played a significant role in reducing incidents as well. The change in design for the Vande Bharat trains, moving away from traditional locomotive features like cattle guards, necessitated these protective measures.
Vineet Abhishek, Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, stressed the importance of this initiative. He noted, “Collisions not only affect train operations but also raise safety concerns for passengers.” In addition to fencing, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been active in raising awareness in surrounding villages.
The staggered installation of the fencing allows not only for animal protection but also ensures that villagers can access their land.
General Manager Vivek Kumar Gupta highlighted that reducing train-animal collisions minimizes risks, allowing for smoother operations. He pointed out that this initiative benefits both the railways and local villagers, promoting greater safety for everyone involved.
For more on the impact of railway safety measures, you can visit Railway Safety Initiatives.
The efforts of the Western Railway demonstrate a proactive approach to safety that enhances train operations while protecting local wildlife.
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