India’s rapidly expanding railway network contributes significantly to its phenomenal infrastructural development, facilitating seamless connectivity both across urban and rural areas. As a cost-effective transportation mode, the railways play a crucial role in national mobility. However, its reliance on conventional energy impacts the environment adversely. As a result, Indian Railways (IR) is now committed to transitioning the railway sector into a net zero mode of transport. To achieve this goal, IR is actively tapping and expanding the use of solar and wind energy, electrifying its network, developing hydrogen-fuel trains and collaborating extensively with other ministries, public sector enterprises, research institutions and cross-border nations.
As part of its strategic allocations for a sustainable future, the government has also prioritised railway electrification to enhance efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. To this end, 97.05 per cent of its network has been electrified as of February 2025. The pace of electrification has increased from around 1.42 km per day during 2004-14 to around 19.7 km per day during 2023-24. Among different zones, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has achieved electrification on 2,827.74 rkm of its networks, as of November 28, 2024, which is around 66 per cent of its total network. It has achieved electrification of 1,401.46 rkm in Assam, 935.94 rkm in West Bengal, 318.87 rkm in Bihar and 151.58 rkm in Tripura. Further, Rs 61.5 billion has been allocated in Union Budget 2025-26 to expedite railway electrification to 100 per cent by the end of financial year 2025-26. These efforts collectively underscore IR’s commitment to transforming into a sustainable, energy-efficient transportation system, driving both economic growth and environmental responsibility.
Harnessing renewable energy
IR is accelerating its adoption of clean energy by tapping into solar and wind power. As of November 2024, 487 MW of solar capacity and 103 MW of wind power have been commissioned across various railway installations. Different railway zones are also attempting to optimise their various types of power consumption. For instance, as of September 2024, Central Railway has sourced 10 per cent of its traction power and 6.5 per cent of its non-traction power from renewable sources.
Meanwhile, solar power plants are also being installed with rising energy demands in the sector, further aiding in minimising reliance on fossil fuels and saving costs. These solar panels have been installed at 205 locations across all five divisions of Central Railway, including 47 locations of the Mumbai division, 58 locations of the Nagpur division, 50 locations of the Pune division, 32 locations of the Bhusaval division and 18 locations of the Solapur division. This initiative has also helped in abating the total power costs of Rs 46.2 million. It has helped in achieving cost savings of Rs 26.6 million at the Mumbai division, Rs 10.9 million at the Bhusaval division, Rs 6.9 million at the Pune division, Rs 1 million at the Nagpur division and Rs 0.8 million at Solapur division. Similarly, the South East Central Railway has made remarkable progress in this direction. As of October 2024, its solar rooftop plants generate 0.38 million units of electricity per month, leading to Rs 1 million of monthly savings and reducing carbon emissions by over 315 tonnes.
Integrating hydrogen power and nuclear energy
IR is progressing towards a lower carbon footprint by using alternative sources such as hydrogen to generate power. For instance, it is developing its first hydrogen train as a pilot project, entirely through indigenous efforts. Unlike traditional trains reliant on fossil fuels, these trains generate electricity through a fuel cell, releasing only water vapour as a by-product. Aligning with IR’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, this train will soon operate on the 89 km-long Jind-Sonipat rail section in Haryana at a remarkable power output of 1,200 horsepower, making it the most powerful hydrogen train in the world. Plans are under way to roll out 35 such hydrogen-powered trains by 2025, primarily targeting non-electrified tracks, which are still reliant on diesel locomotives.
Furthermore, the use of nuclear energy is also emerging as a promising option for power sources in the sector. IR has been exploring the possibility of sourcing power from both existing and upcoming nuclear power plants to meet part of its traction power requirements. In line with this, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) has approached Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and the Ministry of Power for the allocation of nuclear energy to meet its increasing power requirements and to assess the feasibility of adopting nuclear energy as a clean and efficient power source.
Other sustainable explorations through multilateral collaborations
IR is signing up for multiple collaborations with various institutions to lay its path for a greener future. In October 2024, the MoR signed an MoU with Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility for the adoption of advanced and sustainable rail systems in India such as high-speed rail (HSR) infrastructure. It emphasises on collaboration in the fields of planning, design, development, safety, train maintenance, railway facilities and equipment covering long-distance routes (for both conventional and HSR). Additionally, it focuses on integrating services through interoperability, enabling seamless operations across varying track gauges and maximising returns on investments in the HSR segment.
Likewise, the expertise of research institutions is also being leveraged to deploy more efficient technologies. For instance, in November 2024, the NFR entered into a strategic MoU with IIT Guwahati to advance technology-driven improvements in railway operations. This partnership aims at sustainability by promoting green technologies, such as renewable energy integration, energy-efficient locomotives and eco-friendly construction practices, to minimise the railway’s carbon footprint.
Among other related developments, the sector is also progressing towards making its operations more efficient with the adoption of overhead equipment (OHE) and head-on generation (HOG) system. The HOG system enables sustainability by drawing power from OHE through locomotive converters to run coach air conditioning, lighting and fans. This energy-efficient system replaces diesel-powered alternators in power cars, reducing noise, air pollution and operational costs, while ensuring a reliable and eco-friendly power supply for trains. In December 2024, NFR also signed an MoU with IRCON International Limited for maintenance of OHE and power supply installation in Lumding and Tinsukia divisions, ensuring smooth and efficient operations by June 2025. The collaboration aims to enhance the adoption of HOG technology, which utilises power from the OHE system to run train auxiliaries such as lighting, air conditioning and fans.
In sum
IR has evolved beyond a mere source of transportation to serve as a mascot for India’s commitment towards a greener future. Its push for building dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) also aligns with its broader vision towards sustainability. For instance, corridors by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited are completely electrified, utilising 2×25 kV feeding system widely used for heavy-haul operations worldwide. This set-up ensures minimal environmental impact and low carbon emissions.
In fact, the DFCs are estimated to cut carbon emissions by approximately 457 million tonnes in around 30 years. While the construction of the Eastern DFC has been completed, work on the Western DFC is around 93 per cent complete. These works are further supported by the recent fund allocations in the Union Budget of 2025-26, to the tune of Rs 3.85 billion for Phase I and Rs 6.6 billion for Phase II.
Moreover, the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation and IR, in collaboration with IIT Bombay, are also expected to conduct a study to enhance the financial and operational sustainability of Mumbai’s suburban rail network. The study will focus on recommending strategies for efficient service delivery and sustainable infrastructure planning. It is expected to be completed by July 2027.
These efforts reflect the sector’s commitment to sustainability with continuing plans for strategic investments and conscious planning of railway network projects. Besides, electrification will be IR’s major focus area. The development of DFCs, substantial financial commitments and research-driven initiatives also highlight its long-term vision for reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency. Going forward, IR is expected to continue leveraging advanced technology, renewable energy sources and innovative policy measures to further enhance sustainability. As these initiatives progress, IR is set to emerge as a global leader in green railway transportation and drive India’s transition towards an environmentally responsible future.
