Indian Railways Celebrating 100 Years of Electrification – CleanTechnica

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Indian Railways continues to electrify its network, a process began precisely 100 years ago. In fact, it is nearly at 100% electrification. “As of 1 January 2025, 64,547 route kilometres (rkm) were electrified, which is 97.06% of the total broad gauge network (66,504 rkm, including Konkan Railway),” Wikipedia writes.

Swapnil Nila, Central Public Relations Officer, announced that Indian Railways will commemorate the 100th anniversary of electrification on February 3, honoring the first measures taken toward a greener rail system. On February 3, 1925, the first electric train in India ran from platform 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) to Kurla in Mumbai. The railways began electrification just 72 years after the first Indian train was launched on April 16, 1853.

Apart from celebrating the centenary of the beginning of electricity, Central Railway has also completed 100 percent electrification. Central Railway is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways.

Today, along with almost the entire 66,504 km broad gauge network being electrified, the standard gauge used in city metro trains is. 1 meter gauge and 4 narrow gauge railways are not electrified because they only have one track and are classed as tourist heritage railways.

“The first electric train ran between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, then known as Victoria Terminus, to Kurla. This particular train was EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains original version. It was run from platform number 2, and this was a new initiative, a greener initiative for a long-lasting change. And now Central Railway and Indian Railway are celebrating 100 years of the completion of this electrification,” the CPRO told ANI.

China & Japan have electrified 75%, with Russia at 51%.

It’s high time the USA, with just 1% electrified, should try to use a combo of catenary + batteries being charged at regular intersections. Otherwise, upcoming electric trucks will swallow the share of railways.

“In this particular period, Central Railway has completed its 100% electrification also, and for this we are initiating the celebrations, which will be starting from 3rd of February,” CPRO added.

To commemorate the centenary, several events have been planned, including a run, seminars, and 3D presentations.

“There are multiple activities planned starting from a run in the morning. Followed by a ceremonial commemoration, technical and other seminars will be organized at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on that day. Afterwards, we will continue to organize the various events that have been planned, including the projections, including the three-dimensional shows,” Nila added about the planned programs.

“The Central Railways has also planned various sessions with schoolchildren to show them the history and heritage of the railways.”

Previously, Saurabh, a contributor to CleanTechnica, reported on the growth of renewable energy use to electrify the trains. “Indian Railways has been actively pursuing a goal to increase share of renewable energy in its energy mix. It is believed to be in the process of converting most of its diesel-fired locomotives to electric locomotives. It has installed rooftop solar power projects at several stations as well as trains to power lighting and cooling systems. According to a 2017 UNDP study, Indian Railways has the potential to set up 3.9 gigawatts of land-based solar power capacity and 1.1 gigawatts of rooftop solar power capacity and meet 25% of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources.”

Source: India Post

Featured image: ICF coaches standing near Modinagar Railway Station, India. Image courtesy of Ravi Dwivedi, Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 International license.