Sealdah division records high rate of punctuality in train running
The Statesman | 8 January 2026
In what comes as an accomplishment for Sealdah, the divisional railway recorded significant improvements in punctuality in 2025. The division has achieved punctuality percentages of 95 in mail/ express trains and 94 per cent in suburban sections, both of which are higher in performances as compared to the previous year of 2024.
According to the data received from official sources, Sealdah Division registered significant improvements in terms of punctuality of trains from 1 April to 22 December, 2025. A comparative data reveals that the division registered a 95.30 per cent punctuality during 1 April to 22 December, 2025. This was 2.47 per cent higher as compared to the corresponding period of 2024 when the division recorded 92.56 punctuality in operating mail/ express trains.
Interestingly, a closer look at the official data reveals a greater improvement in the punctuality percentage of the suburban section where complaints of train delay by commuters in certain sections are reported quite often. As the statistics go, Sealdah Division registered a punctuality rate of 94 per cent between 1 April and 22 December, 2025. However, as compared to the improvement figures of mail express trains, the punctuality percentage of the suburban sections is higher and recorded as 4.19 per cent more than that of the corresponding period in 2024 when the percentage stood at 89.50.
The performance has made the divisional railway authorities put forth an ambitious target for the ongoing year. After achieving 95 and 94 per cent punctuality in mail/ express and suburban sections respectively, the divisional railway authorities are eying for a 97 per cent punctuality in 2026. For this, a stepwise project of upgrading the signals at three places, including Sealdah, Naihati and Dum Dum has been undertaken. “Of the three places, the work in Naihati is expected to be completed in February as the mandatory approval from the commissioner of railway safety has been received,” informed an official. “Next, the signal upgrade at Dum Dum would be completed. For this, the CRS has raised some compliance points which have been done and sent for an approval. At Sealdah, the task involves signal upgrade, which should not take more than four hours,” he added.
As elaborated by the official, the divisional railway is eying for completion of the work by 31 March. “After the upgrade of signalling, these three crucial points and some other works, we are hoping to see more improvements in punctuality percentage, particularly in the suburban section,” reiterated the official.