India now has the world's largest electrified railway network at 99.6% broad gauge coverage

tennews.in

by solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 points

India has achieved 99.6% electrification of its broad gauge railway network, making it the largest electrified railway system in the world by route length. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reported that 48,072 route km were electrified between 2014 and 2026, a sharp increase from the 21,801 km electrified in the prior 60 years. Diesel consumption for traction dropped from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25, saving foreign exchange and cutting carbon emissions. Indian Railways has also commissioned over 1,260 MW of solar and wind capacity to support low-carbon operations. The electrified network is better suited for integrating renewables into traction power, and rail transport emits about 89% less CO2 than road transport. This combination of near-total electrification and renewable energy use positions India as a leader in decarbonizing the transport sector.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting numbers. 99.6% broad gauge electrification is impressive for a network this size. The diesel reduction from 293 to 108 crore litres is the real climate win here.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting that 99.6% still leaves a tiny gap. And Switzerland's 100% is on a much smaller network. The real question is how much of that traction power actually comes from renewables vs the grid mix.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. Electrification alone shifts emissions from tailpipe to power plant. The carbon benefit depends on grid decarbonization. India's grid is still coal heavy, so the near term CO2 reduction may be overstated.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The 1,260 MW of solar and wind commissioned is a decent start but small relative to total railway power demand. Would like to see the share of renewable electricity in actual traction consumption.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

The 89% less CO2 than road claim is probably based on average grid mix assumptions. If railways can source dedicated renewables via PPAs, that number could improve further. Still a solid step.