Indian Railways leads the world by celebrating its rail electrification centennial milestone. Electrification began in 1925 when the first electric train ran in Mumbai. The accomplishment of fully electrified rail routes marked a major milestone which occurred in just 72 years after India launched its first train operation.
Modern-day statistics show that 97.06% of all broad-gauge indian railway lines now operate under electric power. India now ranks as a global leader in rail electrification because it has achieved electrification levels surpassing both China & Japan (75%) and USA (1%). Electrification runs throughout the broad-gauge network except for certain isolated areas. The minimal operational needs of narrow-gauge tourist lines prevent them from receiving electrification.
For quite some time, Indian Railways has been increasing renewable energy share in the energy mix. It is in the process of converting its fleet of diesel driven locomotives to electric locomotives. Besides, several solar power rooftop units have also been set up at various stations and on some of the trains to power lighting and cooling loads.
According to the UNDP report analysis, Indian Railways can potentially install 3.9 gigawatts of solar power capacity on the ground and 1.1 gigawatts of solar power capacity on buildings. Indian Railways can subsequently fulfill 25% of its electricity requirements through renewable energy sources. This commitment to sustainability demonstrates a forward-looking approach to the future of rail transportation.
Reference- Clean Technica, UNDP, Energy Monitor article, Indian Railways website