India’s Railway Electrification: A century of progress & global rankings

New Delhi: Today, February 3, marks an important era in the Indian Railways. It has completed 100 years since the first electric train rain in the country and 100 years of railway electrification. The first electric train began from Victoria Terminus, now named Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, to Kurla Harbour. Since 1925, there has been no looking back for the transformation of Indian Railways.

Railway electrification is not just in India; some countries worldwide have made an impact by having 100 per cent rail electrification. However, these countries have the smallest rail networks. On the other hand, countries like India and China, which have the largest rail networks in the world, are nearing the big achievement of having the most electrified rail network in terms of length. In this article, let us look at a list of countries with the most rail electrification in length.

Women Leading the Way!

Marking 100 years of Electric Traction in Indian Railways, the Rajya Rani Express was operated recently by an all-women crew. pic.twitter.com/Qo8dg3Lp9P

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 2, 2025

Global Railway Electrification: A Country-Wise Comparison

India leads the world in railway electrification, boasting one of the largest rail networks globally. It has the fourth-largest rail network, following the USA, China, and Russia. However, India stands out in electrification, with 97% of its railways electrified. The USA has only 1% electrification, China has 70%, and Russia has 51%.

After India, the countries with the highest railway electrification are Belgium (82%), Italy (81%), South Korea (78%), the Netherlands (76%), Japan (75%), Austria (75%), Sweden (75%), Norway (68%), and Spain (68%). In Australia, only 10% of rail lines are electric, and this is even lower in Pakistan (4%), Mexico (3%), Egypt (1%), the USA (1%), Argentina (0.5%), and Canada (0.2%).

The rail networks are as follows: America has 220,044 km, China has 159,000 km, Russia has 105,000 km, and India has 68,525 km. Other notable networks include Canada (48,000 km), Germany (43,468 km), Australia (40,000 km), Brazil (37,743 km), Argentina (36,966 km), and South Africa (31,000 km).

Countries having the most railway electrification (cent percentage)

What is Railway electrification?

Railway electrification means using electric power to move trains. Electric railways can use electric locomotives (which pull separate passenger or freight cars), electric multiple units (passenger cars with their own motors), or both. Electricity is usually generated at large stations and sent through the railway network to power the trains. Some electric railways have their own power plants and lines, but most buy electricity from a utility. The railway typically handles its own distribution lines, switches, and transformers.

Trains get power from a continuous conductor along the track, which usually comes in two forms: an overhead line suspended from poles or ceilings and contacted by a pantograph or a third rail sitting at track level and contacted by a sliding “pickup shoe”. Most systems use the running rails as the return conductor, but some have a separate fourth rail.

Electric railways are more energy-efficient than diesel engines, produce lower emissions, and generally have lower operating costs. Electric locomotives are usually quieter, more powerful, and more reliable than diesel engines. They produce no local emissions, which is especially important in tunnels and cities. Some electric systems can also regenerate energy during braking, turning the train’s movement back into electricity that can be used by other trains or the utility grid. While diesel locomotives use petroleum, electricity can come from various sources, including renewable energy.

Historically, many countries have electrified railways to rely less on imported resources. For example, Switzerland mainly lacks oil or coal but has plenty of hydropower. It electrified its rail network partly due to supply issues during both World Wars.

 February 3 marks the centennial of India’s railway electrification, a journey from the first electric train between Victoria Terminus and Kurla Harbour to a near-complete network. This article explores countries with the highest railway electrification by length and percentage. While India boasts the world’s fourth-largest rail network, its 97 per cent electrification surpasses that of global leaders like China (70 per cent) and the USA (1 per cent).   knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge