Editorial 1: ​​​A green transition accelerating at express speed

Context

Railway decarbonisation proves reform with fiscal discipline.

Introduction

The successful trial of India’s first hydrogen-powered train coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in July 2025marks more than a technological milestone as it represents a decisive step in the Indian Railways’ green transformation. As one of the world’s largest rail networks, Indian Railways is pursuing a transition with few global parallels, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, four decades ahead of India’s national goal.

• This transformation goes beyond clean energy adoption;
  • it signifies a complete reimagining of infrastructure, operations, and financing models, positioning the Railways as a leader in sustainable mobility and climate action.
• With over 24 million passengers and three million tonnes of freight transported daily,
  • the decarbonisation of this vast network holds profound implications for India’s overall climate commitments and sustainable development objectives.

Key Initiatives of Indian Railways’ Green Transition (Last 10 Years):

• 45,000 km of broad-gauge network electrified - now 98% electrified, sharply reducing diesel use and emissions.
• Renewable energy integration: 553 MW solar, 103 MW wind, and 100 MW hybrid ->  total 756 MW commissioned.
• 2,000+ stations and service buildings powered by solar energy.
• Several railway offices, including in the Northeast Frontier zone, certified with the BEE “Shunya” net-zero label.
• Hydrogen-powered train successfully trialled under the “Hydrogen for Heritage” programme - 35 units planned.
• Freight shift to rail targeted to raise modal share to 45% by 2030, reducing road emissions.
• Biofuel blends, green buildings, and Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) operationalised - projected to avert 457 million tonnes of CO₂ over 30 years.
• Together, these initiatives mark a technological and systemic reimagining of Indian Railways as a climate-positive national mobility backbone.

Climate Finance Takes the Main Line

1. Building a Green Finance Backbone

• Indian Railways is aligning fiscal innovation with climate ambition — creating a financing model that blends green capital with strategic infrastructure development.

2. Aligning Finance with Real Climate Outcomes

• Green power sourcing: Electrification must be paired with genuinely renewable traction power.
  • Direct long-term procurement from solar and wind producers ensures true decarbonisation.
• Last-mile sustainability: Develop multi-modal green hubs integrating electric buses, bicycle-sharing, and walkable infrastructure.
  • Promote clean freight logistics via electric, LNG, or hydrogen-powered last-mile vehicles.
• Innovation in rolling stock: Pilot hydrogen fuel-cell trains on non-electrified or heritage routes.
  • Introduce lightweight coaches, aerodynamic locomotives, and AI-based energy optimisation systems.
• Behavioural transformation: Introduce green certification for trains and carbon labelling for freight services.
  • Launch awareness campaigns to make passengers and businesses active climate partners.
• Climate finance must translate into real emissions reduction and systemic reform. T
• he Indian Railways can emerge as a model of state-led decarbonisation - where technology, finance, and behavioural change converge to redefine sustainable mobility.

Meeting the Challenge

• Achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 could help Indian Railways avoid over 60 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and equivalent to removing 13 million cars from Indian roads.
• Electrification and energy efficiency measures are expected to yield ₹1 lakh crore in fuel savings by decade’s end.
• The real challenge lies in mobilising and managing capital, not in setting ambitious goals.
• If executed effectively, the decarbonisation plan can serve as a global model thus demonstrating that large state-run systems can pursue low-carbon transformation without compromising fiscal discipline.

Conclusion

The Indian Railways’ decarbonisation journey reflects India’s growing capacity to merge technological innovation with fiscal prudence. By aligning green finance, clean energy, and behavioural reform, it showcases how a state-run system can lead a sustainable transformation at scale. If sustained, this express-speed green transition could redefine public infrastructure as a cornerstone of climate action and economic resilience.