India Achieves World's Largest Electrified Railway Network

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Railway Minister, informed the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2026, that India has become the global leader in electrified railway networks. India has achieved 99.6 percent electrification of its broad gauge track network, outperforming China, which stands at 82 percent, as well as Spain, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. While Switzerland maintains 100 percent electrification, the Indian network is significantly larger in scale.

Between 2014 and 2026, Indian Railways electrified 48,072 route kilometers, more than doubling the 21,801 route kilometers completed over the previous 60 years. This expansion led to a substantial decrease in diesel consumption, falling from 293 crore liters in 2015-16 to 108 crore liters in 2024-25. These changes resulted in lower carbon emissions and saved foreign exchange.

To support these low-carbon operations, India has also commissioned over 1,260 MW of solar and wind power capacity.