train travel in india Punctuality witnessed significant improvement during 2024, providing a smoother and more predictable experience for millions of passengers across the country. Based on comprehensive data collected from RailYatri, a popular platform used by train passengers, average delays across the national railway network have reduced by about 8% compared to last year. If you’re planning to book your next rail journey, read on to find out which state offers the best (and on-time) travel experience!

States with most punctual trains

• Uttarakhand: With a significant reduction of 32% in delays, Uttarakhand becomes one of the most punctual states for train travel in 2024. The average delay time in the state came down to 35 minutes, while the average delay was just 10 minutes, making it a reliable one. Destination for rail travelers.

• Punjab: This northern state also saw substantial improvement with a 20% reduction in delays. Commuters reported an average delay of 15 minutes.
• Gujarat: Known for its strong infrastructure, train punctuality in Gujarat improved by 19%, with the average delay coming down to 11 minutes.
• Chhattisgarh: Commuters here benefited from an 18% reduction in delays, although the average wait time is still 61 minutes. However, the average delay was more than manageable at 22 minutes.
• Madhya Pradesh: The heartland of India saw a 16% reduction in delays, with an average delay time of 53 minutes and an average delay of 19 minutes.

States where trains are often delayed

While most states enjoyed smooth train operations, some saw an increase in delays, causing inconvenience to passengers. Here are the states where delays have become a growing concern:

• West Bengal: Delays in West Bengal increased by 16%, with the average delay time increasing to 48 minutes. The average delay also increased to 18 minutes, impacting the overall travel experience.
• Odisha: Commuters in Odisha faced a 5% increase in delays, with the average waiting time reaching 69 minutes and an average delay of 35 minutes.
• Tamil Nadu: While Tamil Nadu generally performs well in train punctuality, it saw a marginal increase of 4% in delays with an average delay of 14 minutes.
• Kerala: Known for its scenic rail routes, Kerala saw a 3% increase in delays, taking the average waiting time to 31 minutes and average delay to 16 minutes.
• Assam: Passengers in Assam faced slightly higher delays with a 2% increase in 2024. The average delay was 53 minutes with an average delay of 20 minutes.

Best and worst states for train punctuality in 2024

Looking at train punctuality across India, some states have consistently been the best, while others have struggled with frequent delays.

States with lowest latency (medium time)

• Uttarakhand: Average delay of 10 minutes.
• Gujarat: Average delay 11 minutes.
• Tamil Nadu and Delhi: Both states reported an average delay of 14 minutes.
• Punjab: Average delay of 15 minutes.

States with Most Delays (Medium Time)

• Goa: Commuters here faced the longest delays, with an average delay of 41 minutes.
• Odisha: Average delay of 35 minutes.
• Telangana: Average delay 35 minutes.

Performance by type of trains: Which trains were on time?

The type of train a passenger chooses can have a significant impact on their travel experience. Here’s how different types of trains fared in 2024:

• Humsafar Express: Still the slowest with an average delay of 55 minutes, but delays reduced by 22% compared to 2023.
• Duronto Express: Improved by 14% with an average delay of 47 minutes.
• Shatabdi Express: Known for its reliability, delays have declined by 10% with an average of just 10 minutes.
• Mail/Express/Superfast: These popular trains improved by 6% with an average delay of 39 minutes.
• Vande Bharat: Despite being India’s flagship, delays increased by 21%, but it remained the most punctual with an average delay of only 8 minutes.

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