Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promises 52 reforms this year with focus on safety, staff skilling, service delivery
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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has chaired a meeting in which the Railways announced an ambitious plan to introduce 52 reforms over 52 weeks in 2026, with key emphasis on safety, technology, workforce training, and onboard catering.
Ministers of State for Railways V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh, along with senior officials from the Railway Board, were also present at the meeting.
According to an official statement, the reform agenda is aimed at enhancing service delivery, strengthening governance and improving day-to-day operations across the Indian Railways network. Officials said the decisions were taken during a review meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Safety in focus
Safety has been placed at the heart of the reform plan. The official release highlighted a sharp decline in consequential train accidents over the years, with cases falling by nearly 90 per cent—from 135 in 2014–15 to 11 in 2025–26. The ministry has now set a goal of bringing the number down to single digit.
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To further strengthen safety measures, Indian Railways plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. These will be applied to safety systems, track and asset maintenance, and routine operations. The ministry said such technologies would enable real-time monitoring of infrastructure and support better decision-making.
January 2026
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In a post on social media platform X, Vaishnaw said, “Today, in a meeting…., it has been decided to bring major reforms in Railways this year, 52 Reforms in 52 Weeks for systematic improvements in service delivery.”
Workforce training and talent management
Apart from safety and technology, the reform package also focuses on workforce training and talent management. The ministry said it would explore new approaches to employee training and skill upgradation to ensure staff are better equipped to meet operational demands.
Onboard catering and passenger services are also set for improvement. Steps will be taken to enhance food quality and service standards on trains, addressing long-standing passenger complaints related to onboard facilities.
The Ministry of Railways said it will continue to focus on safety, use of modern technology and passenger-friendly measures as it rolls out the reforms through the year.