Indian Railways is accelerating the modernisation of its infrastructure and rolling stock through the adoption of advanced technologies to improve safety, punctuality, reliability and passenger comfort, while significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

With large-scale electrification of the rail network, the use of coal-based and diesel locomotives has declined sharply. Electrification has been taken up in mission mode, with around 99.2 per cent of the Broad Gauge network already electrified. Work on the remaining sections is currently underway.

Railway data show that before 2014, over a span of about 60 years, electrification covered 21,801 route kilometres. Between 2014 and 2025, electrification expanded rapidly to 46,900 route kilometres, reflecting the pace of network modernisation over the past decade.

Indian Railways is also manufacturing and commissioning state-of-the-art three-phase IGBT-based electric locomotives. These locomotives feature regenerative braking systems, enabling them to recover part of the energy used during braking, making them more energy-efficient.

Coal-fired steam locomotives are now limited to heritage usage and are operated on UNESCO-recognised mountain railways, seasonal steam-hauled services and chartered trains in association with IRCTC, preserving their historical value.

To further reduce emissions, Indian Railways plans to progressively meet its traction power requirements through renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and other clean energy options, under a strategic power procurement framework. As of November 2025, around 812 MW of solar capacity and about 93 MW of wind power capacity have been commissioned to meet traction demand. In addition, 100 MW of renewable power under round-the-clock mode has begun supplying traction power through arrangements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

A further 1,500 MW of renewable capacity under round-the-clock mode has been tied up to support traction needs. This hybrid solution combines solar, wind and energy storage components to ensure reliability.

During 2023–24, Indian Railways spent Rs 296.14 billion on traction, covering all forms of traction energy. The organisation has also launched a pilot project to operate its first hydrogen-powered train, developed as per specifications set by the Research, Design and Standards Organisation. The initiative underlines Indian Railways’ commitment to alternative energy technologies and cleaner transport solutions.

As part of its broader strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, Indian Railways aims to progressively shift its traction energy mix towards renewable sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering overall emissions. The details were shared by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.