Indian Railways electrification nears completion

Indian Railways electrification is nearing completion across the main network, reducing the system’s exposure to volatile oil markets at a time when energy supplies from the Persian Gulf are under pressure.

The latest progress comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted after conflict broke out in the Middle East, affecting global oil and gas flows, as reported by Railway-News. India relies on that route for around 40 percent of its crude oil imports and more than 20 percent of its liquefied natural gas supplies.

Indian Railways electrification reaches 99.4 percent

Data presented by Riding Sunbeams, a UK-based think tank and consultancy, shows that by January 2026 Indian Railways had electrified 99.4 percent of its broad gauge routes, according to Railway-News. Out of 70,001 route kilometres, 69,427 kilometres had been fitted with overhead electric lines, leaving only a small number of sections across five states still to be completed.

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The Mission 100% Electrification programme has sharply reduced diesel use in rail operations. In the 2024–25 financial year, diesel consumption fell by 17.8 billion litres compared with earlier levels, representing a 62 percent reduction from the 2016–17 baseline.

Meanwhile, India imports more than 85 percent of the crude oil used to produce fuels such as diesel and petrol. When global oil prices rise, the country’s import bill usually rises with them, putting added pressure on inflation and public finances. Shifting railway traction from diesel to electricity lowers part of that exposure and strengthens energy security.

Leo Murray, Chief Executive of Riding Sunbeams, said:

By electrifying its entire railway network and committing to net zero by 2030, India is lighting the way for the rest of the world, and demonstrating clearly how infrastructure strategy can strengthen both climate ambition and energy security. Few countries have moved at this pace or scale. Reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels while rapidly expanding home-grown renewable electricity is not only a climate imperative, it is a resilience strategy in an increasingly volatile world.

Mission 100% Electrification and diesel reduction

Railway electrification has accelerated over the past decade. About two-thirds of Indian Railways’ network’s electrified track has been completed during the last ten years under the government’s Mission 100% Electrification, as outlined by PIB.

At the same time, this long-running push has made Indian Railways electrification a central part of the operator’s broader effort to reduce diesel dependence. The scale of the diesel consumption reduction shows how network upgrades can shape both operating costs and exposure to imported fuel markets, especially during periods of external disruption.

Railway renewable energy and net-zero carbon emissions by 2030

Alongside electrification, the railway system has expanded its use of railway renewable energy. Installed solar capacity across railway facilities rose from 3.68 megawatts in 2014 to about 898 megawatts by November 2025. Solar panels have been installed at more than 2,600 stations and operational buildings, as previously covered by Railway Supply, with about 70 percent of that capacity supporting train traction.

Also, Indian Railways has set a target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Meeting that goal is expected to require further growth in renewable electricity generation and procurement, as well as continued improvements in energy efficiency. In addition, by the end of the decade, total electricity demand from the system could exceed 10 gigawatts.

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