There were several factors that contributed to delays in passenger trains during the fiscal year 2022-2023. These factors include: 1. Infrastructure Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance work on railway tracks, bridges, and signaling systems often led to delays in train operations. These maintenance activities are necessary for ensuring the safety and reliability of the railway network. 2. Technical Issues: Technical faults in rolling stock, such as locomotives or carriages, could lead to unexpected breakdowns and delays. Issues with engines, brakes, or other mechanical components required immediate repairs, resulting in disruptions to train schedules. 3. Inclement Weather: Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snowstorms, or high winds, can impact rail operations. In extreme cases, tracks may become flooded or blocked due to fallen trees or landslides, making it unsafe for trains to operate at regular speed or causing service cancellations. 4. Unplanned Events: Unforeseen incidents like accidents, fires, or security threats along the railway line can disrupt train services. Safety precautions and investigations may require temporary suspensions or diversions, causing delays for passengers. 5. Congestion and Capacity Issues: High demand and limited infrastructure capacity can lead to congestion on the railway network. Overcrowding at stations, bottlenecks along the tracks, or conflicting train schedules can result in delays as trains have to wait for their turn to proceed. 6. Freight Train Interference: Delays in the movement of freight trains can have a cascading effect on passenger services. If there is a backlog in freight train operations, it can impact the availability of track slots for passenger trains, leading to delays. 7. Staffing or Human Error: Staff shortages, inadequate training, or mistakes in operations, such as signaling or dispatching errors, can also contribute to delays in train services. It is important to note that various measures are being implemented to address these issues, such as infrastructure improvement initiatives, better maintenance planning, implementing advanced signaling systems, and enhancing operational efficiency.