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)

  1. 25-30 % reduction in operating cost (no diesel haulage).
  2. 25 % more haulage capacity – higher axle-load & speed.
  3. Regenerative braking in 3-phase locos saves 10-15 % traction energy.
  4. Environmental: 1 kWh electric traction emits 0.83 kg CO₂ vs 1.2 kg for diesel.
  5. Import substitution: saves 3,000 crore ₹ forex on diesel every year.
  6. Unified 25 kV system allows through-running of trains without loco change (e.g., Howrah–Mumbai via Rajdhani).

8. Frequently-Asked Theory Bits

Question:01 Which organisation, headquartered in Prayagraj and established in 1961, is responsible for railway electrification in India?

A) RDSO

B) CORE

C) RITES

D) IRCTC

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: CORE (Central Organisation for Railway Electrification), established in 1961 with its headquarters at Prayagraj, handles all railway electrification projects across Indian Railways.

Question:02 What is the standard voltage & frequency adopted by Indian Railways for traction?

A) 25 kV AC, 50 Hz, single phase

B) 15 kV AC, 50 Hz, single phase

C) 25 kV DC, 50 Hz, single phase

D) 25 kV AC, 60 Hz, single phase

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Indian Railways uses 25 kV AC at 50 Hz in a single-phase system for electric traction to balance power transfer efficiency and infrastructure cost.

Question:03 Name the first section converted to 25 kV AC in India.

A) Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi (SER)

B) Howrah–Burdwan (ER)

C) Mumbai Central–Virar (WR)

D) Chennai Beach–Tambaram (SR)

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi section of the South Eastern Railway was the first in India to be electrified at 25 kV AC, commissioned during 1960-61.

Question:04 Which Indian Railway zone was the first to achieve 100 % electrification of its route?

A) South Central Railway

B) Western Railway

C) Central Railway

D) Northern Railway

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: South Central Railway (SCR) was declared the first fully-electrified zone in 2020.

Question:05 [As on 31.03.2024, what percentage of the total Broad-Gauge route km had been electrified?]

A) 78 %
B) 85 %
C) 92 %
D) 97 %

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Out of 65,436 km of BG route, 60,081 km had been electrified by 31.03.2024, which is ≈92 %.

9. Quick-Fire Tables for Last-Minute Revision

A. States 100 % electrified (19)

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Telangana
  3. Tamil Nadu
  4. Karnataka
  5. Kerala
  6. Maharashtra
  7. Gujarat
  8. Rajasthan
  9. Punjab
  10. Haryana
  11. Delhi
  12. Uttar Pradesh
  13. Uttarakhand
  14. Himachal Pradesh
  15. Bihar
  16. Jharkhand
  17. West Bengal
  18. Odisha
  19. 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

  1. The headquarter of CORE is located at
    A. New Delhi
    B. Mumbai
    C. Prayagraj
    D. Kolkata
    Answer: C

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. The first 25 kV AC trial section in India was
    A. Howrah–Burdwan
    B. Rajkharsawan–Dongoaposi
    C. Igatpuri–Bhusaval
    D. Chennai–Gummidipundi
    Answer: B

  5. Which of the following zones has NOT yet achieved 100 % electrification?
    A. SCR
    B. NFR
    C. WR
    D. ECR
    Answer: B

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Which organisation executes electrification projects on behalf of Railways?
    A. RPF
    B. RVNL
    C. CONCOR
    D. DFCCIL
    Answer: B

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. By which year has Indian Railways targeted to become a “Net-Zero Carbon Emitter”?
    A. 2025
    B. 2027
    C. 2030
    D. 2035
    Answer: C

  12. Which state became the latest to achieve 100 % rail route electrification (2023)?
    A. Assam
    B. Manipur
    C. Jammu & Kashmir
    D. Sikkim
    Answer: C

  13. 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

  14. The decision to adopt 25 kV AC system was taken in the year
    A. 1950
    B. 1957
    C. 1965
    D. 1970
    Answer: B

  15. 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
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