Technology Railway Electrification Status
Railway Electrification Status – Indian Railways (Technology Section)
1. Overview
- Vision: “Net-Zero Carbon Emitter” by 2030
- Electrification is the backbone of energy security, higher haulage capacity & 25 % savings in operating cost.
- Implemented by: CORE (Central Organisation for Railway Electrification) – HQ at Allahabad (Prayagraj), set up in 1961.
2. Key Statistics (as on 31.03.2024*)
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Route km of Indian Railways | 68,438 km |
| Broad-Gauge (BG) route km | 65,436 km |
| Electrified BG route km | 60,081 km |
| % BG route electrified | 92 % |
| Running track km electrified | ~88,000 km (≈90 %) |
| Traction substations (TSS) energised | 6,790 nos. |
| States/UTs 100 % electrified | 19 |
| Target for 100 % BG electrification | 2023-24 (achieved) |
| Energy saved per annum | ~2,500 crore ₹ |
| CO₂ reduction | ~4 million t/year |
*Source: CORE Monthly Bulletin & Railway Board Statement, April 2024.
3. Zone-wise Electrification Snapshot (BG route km)
| Zone | Total BG RKM | Electrified RKM (31.03.24) | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central (CR) | 4,528 | 4,528 | 100 |
| Eastern (ER) | 2,833 | 2,833 | 100 |
| East Central (ECR) | 3,478 | 3,478 | 100 |
| East Coast (ECoR) | 2,835 | 2,835 | 100 |
| Northern (NR) | 7,525 | 7,525 | 100 |
| North Central (NCR) | 3,544 | 3,544 | 100 |
| North Eastern (NER) | 3,352 | 3,352 | 100 |
| Northeast Frontier (NFR) | 4,227 | 3,870 | 91.5 |
| North Western (NWR) | 5,592 | 5,592 | 100 |
| Southern (SR) | 5,143 | 4,965 | 96.5 |
| South Central (SCR) | 6,204 | 6,204 | 100 |
| South Eastern (SER) | 2,949 | 2,949 | 100 |
| South East Central (SECR) | 2,765 | 2,765 | 100 |
| South Western (SWR) | 3,660 | 3,660 | 100 |
| Western (WR) | 6,182 | 6,182 | 100 |
| West Central (WCR) | 4,611 | 4,611 | 100 |
| Total BG | 65,436 | 60,081 | 92 |
4. Milestones & Chronology
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1925 | First 1.5 kV DC section – Bombay VT–Kurla (Great Indian Peninsula Railway) |
| 1957 | Decision to adopt 25 kV 50 Hz AC (French SNCF system) |
| 1960 | Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi (SER) first 25 kV AC trial section |
| 1961 | CORE created |
| 1967 | First AC loco (WAG-1) commissioned |
| 1995-96 | Calcutta (Sealdah)–Delhi Rajdhani route electrified |
| 2014 | 23,541 km electrified (34 % network) |
| 2017 | 100 % electrification of Konkan Railway |
| 2020 | Hundred-percent electrification of entire South Central Zone |
| 2021 | All routes in Jammu & Kashmir (USBRL) up to Baramulla energised |
| 2022 | Last diesel-only trunk route – Gondia–Ballarshah (SECR) – switched over |
| 2023 | 100 % electrification of BG network declared achieved |
| 2024 | Focus shifted to doubling/3rd line electrification & TSS augmentation |
5. Technical Standards
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Traction voltage | 25 kV AC, 50 Hz, single phase |
| Catenary type | 150 mm² Cu-Ag (OHE) & 107 mm² Cu Mg alloy (catenary) |
| Normal OHE height | 5.50 m above rail level (5.30 m for goods loops) |
| Max. Permissible speed under OHE | 160 km/h (BG); trials for 200 km/h under way |
| Power block norm for electrification | 6 h/day (traffic block) |
| Remote monitoring | SCADA (Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition) at all TSS |
6. Production Units & Electrification Assets
| Unit | Location | Product/Role |
|---|---|---|
| CLW | Chittaranjan | Electric locos (WAG-9, WAP-7) |
| BLW | Banaras (Varanasi) | Electric locos (WAP-5, WAG-12B) |
| ICF | Chennai | EMU/MEMU coaches |
| RCF | Kapurthala | EMU/MEMU coaches |
| CORE | Prayagraj | Planning & execution of electrification projects |
| RVNL | New Delhi | Project implementing agency (PIA) for many electrification works |
7. Benefits of Electrification (Exam points)
- 25-30 % reduction in operating cost (no diesel haulage).
- 25 % more haulage capacity – higher axle-load & speed.
- Regenerative braking in 3-phase locos saves 10-15 % traction energy.
- Environmental: 1 kWh electric traction emits 0.83 kg CO₂ vs 1.2 kg for diesel.
- Import substitution: saves 3,000 crore ₹ forex on diesel every year.
- Unified 25 kV system allows through-running of trains without loco change (e.g., Howrah–Mumbai via Rajdhani).
8. Frequently-Asked Theory Bits
Q. Which organisation is responsible for railway electrification in India?
CORE (Central Organisation for Railway Electrification), established 1961, HQ Prayagraj.
Q. What is the standard voltage & frequency adopted by Indian Railways for traction?
25 kV AC, 50 Hz, single phase.
Q. Name the first section converted to 25 kV AC in India.
Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi (SER) commissioned 1960-61.
Q. Which zone was the first to achieve 100 % electrification?
South Central Railway (SCR) – declared 2020.
Q. What is the present status of BG route electrification?
60,081 route km (≈92 %) of 65,436 km BG network electrified as on 31.03.2024.
9. Quick-Fire Tables for Last-Minute Revision
A. States 100 % electrified (19)
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Maharashtra
- Gujarat
- Rajasthan
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Delhi
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Himachal Pradesh
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
B. Remaining non-electrified sections (≤ 8 %)
Mainly in Northeast (NFR) & some under-gauge-conversion projects in hill/NE regions.
10. Practice MCQs – Railway Electrification Status
-
The headquarter of CORE is located at
A. New Delhi
B. Mumbai
C. Prayagraj
D. Kolkata
Answer: C -
As on 31.03.2024, approximately what percentage of BG route km has been electrified?
A. 82 %
B. 88 %
C. 92 %
D. 98 %
Answer: C -
Indian Railways adopted which traction system for new electrification projects?
A. 1.5 kV DC
B. 3 kV DC
C. 25 kV AC 50 Hz
D. 15 kV AC 16⅔ Hz
Answer: C -
The first 25 kV AC trial section in India was
A. Howrah–Burdwan
B. Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi
C. Igatpuri–Bhusaval
D. Chennai–Gummidipundi
Answer: B -
Which of the following zones has NOT yet achieved 100 % electrification?
A. SCR
B. NFR
C. WR
D. ECR
Answer: B -
The total number of traction substations (TSS) energised on Indian Railways is about
A. 4,590
B. 5,400
C. 6,790
D. 8,100
Answer: C -
The nominal height of OHE contact wire above rail level for BG is
A. 4.80 m
B. 5.50 m
C. 6.10 m
D. 6.45 m
Answer: B -
Which organisation executes electrification projects on behalf of Railways?
A. RPF
B. RVNL
C. CONCOR
D. DFCCIL
Answer: B -
The energy saving achieved through regenerative braking in 3-phase electric locos is around
A. 3-5 %
B. 10-15 %
C. 25-30 %
D. 40-45 %
Answer: B -
The first electric train in India ran in 1925 on
A. Bombay VT–Kurla
B. Madras Beach– Tambaram
C. Sealdah–Bardhaman
D. Howrah–Burdwan
Answer: A -
By which year has Indian Railways targeted to become a “Net-Zero Carbon Emitter”?
A. 2025
B. 2027
C. 2030
D. 2035
Answer: C -
Which state became the latest to achieve 100 % rail route electrification (2023)?
A. Assam
B. Manipur
C. Jammu & Kashmir
D. Sikkim
Answer: C -
The approximate CO₂ reduction per year due to electrification is
A. 1 million t
B. 2 million t
C. 4 million t
D. 8 million t
Answer: C -
The decision to adopt 25 kV AC system was taken in the year
A. 1950
B. 1957
C. 1965
D. 1970
Answer: B -
The cost of electrification per route km (2022-23 average) is roughly
A. 0.5 crore ₹
B. 1 crore ₹
C. 1.5 crore ₹
D. 2 crore ₹
Answer: B
Last-Minute Cram Card
- 92 % BG network electrified (60,081/65,436 km)
- 25 kV AC 50 Hz – standard
- CORE – Prayagraj – 1961
- First 25 kV section – Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi
- Regenerative braking – 10-15 % energy saved
- Target 100 % electrification – achieved 2023-24
- Net-Zero target – 2030
BETA
