Context:

• The successful July 2025 trial of India’s first hydrogen-powered coach at the Integral Coach Factory marks a major milestone in Indian Railways’ green transformation.
• Aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030—decades ahead of national targets—the initiative reflects a broader overhaul of operations, infrastructure, and financing.
• As one of the world’s largest rail networks carrying 24 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of freight daily, this shift will play a crucial role in advancing India’s sustainable development and achieving national climate goals.
• This article highlights Indian Railways’ rapid and comprehensive green transformation aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Indian Railways’ Green Transformation: Toward a Climate-Positive Future

• Over the past decade, Indian Railways has electrified nearly 45,000 km of its broad-gauge network, achieving over 98% electrification and drastically cutting diesel dependence and emissions.
• This transition is reinforced by renewable energy adoption — with 553 MW of solar, 103 MW of wind, and 100 MW of hybrid capacity already operational.
• More than 2,000 stations and service buildings now run on solar power, and several railway facilities, including in the Northeast Frontier zone, have earned the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s “Shunya” net-zero certification.
• Innovation in clean traction includes India’s first hydrogen-powered train under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative, which plans to deploy 35 such units.
• Complementary measures are also planned. These measures include:
  • shifting freight from road to rail to reach a 45% modal share by 2030,
  • blending biofuels,
  • constructing green buildings, and
  • operating Dedicated Freight Corridors.
• These measures are expected to prevent 457 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over 30 years.

Climate Finance Fuels Indian Railways’ Green Transition

• India’s decarbonisation of rail transport is being driven by a strong climate finance framework.
• Since FY2023, the government has issued ₹58,000 crore in sovereign green bonds, allocating around ₹42,000 crore for electric locomotives and metro and suburban rail expansion—embedding climate goals within capital budgeting.
• The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has been central to this transition, beginning with its $500 million green bond in 2017 for locomotive procurement and later extending a ₹7,500 crore loan to NTPC Green Energy to develop renewable capacity.
• Multilateral support, such as the World Bank’s $245 million Rail Logistics Project loan in 2022, has further bolstered India’s low-carbon transport infrastructure.

Making Electrification Truly Green

• To sustain real emission reductions, railway electrification must be matched by renewable energy sourcing.
• Drawing traction power from India’s coal-heavy grid weakens climate gains.
• Procuring renewable electricity directly from solar and wind producers through long-term contracts can ensure that “green trains” are powered by genuinely clean energy.

Building Low-Carbon Connectivity and Infrastructure

• Sustainable last-mile connectivity is essential. Railway stations should evolve into multi-modal green hubs integrating electric buses, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly designs.
• Freight operations should maintain their low-carbon edge by adopting electric or LNG-powered trucks and exploring hydrogen-based mobility solutions for first-and-last-mile transport.

Innovation and Behavioural Change for a Greener Future

• India must align rolling stock innovation with global standards by introducing hydrogen fuel cell trains on non-electrified routes and heritage lines, using lightweight coaches, aerodynamic designs, and AI-driven energy optimisation systems.
• Beyond technology, behavioural transformation is key—green certification for trains, carbon labelling of freight services, and public awareness campaigns can make passengers and industries active partners in climate action.
• With its massive reach, Indian Railways can redefine sustainable mobility and set a national example in climate-conscious transport.

Indian Railways: Turning Net Zero into a Global Benchmark

• By achieving its net-zero target by 2030, Indian Railways could cut over 60 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually — equivalent to removing 13 million cars from the road.
• Electrification and energy efficiency initiatives are expected to yield fuel cost savings exceeding ₹1 lakh crore by decade’s end.
• However, the true challenge lies in mobilising and effectively managing the capital needed to realise these goals.
• If executed efficiently, India’s railway decarbonisation strategy could serve as a global model, demonstrating how large public transport systems can achieve low-carbon transformation without compromising fiscal stability.