Every accident also means a thousand accidents that did not happen

The best use of AI is for improving safety says this art lover, innovator, and a railways veteran - who puts the common-man’s experience and safety on the same seat when he talks about future-forward contours. At the Zinnov Confluence 2025, we caught up with Dr. Sudhanshu Mani, Retired GM, Indian Railways, an Independent Consultant and an expert voice on Vande Bharat Express as the leader of the project. We tried to get some fleeting glimpses of the superfast and super-exciting coaches of technology that are being added to our train journeys. Hop on.

- Pratima H

The very perception of a train journey has changed a lot in India—with some recent transformations. Are we on the right path?

There have been a lot of changes. Like no unmanned level crossings (that used to cause many accidents and fatalities). The modification of train toilets to bio-toilets has been a big improvement too—and that is significant because it not only created dirty sights earlier but also corrosion on tracks. But what can be done is much more than what has been done. The pace is not fast enough. Making track and fixed infra capabilities ready for 180/160 kmph train operation has not happened although we have Vande Bharat trains which are capable of operation at this speed, and the potential of these trains are therefore not fully exploited.

We have heard recent announcements of incorporation of machine vision for inspection and maintenance along with use of Al in many areas in railways. What is your reckoning here?