Lok Sabha Question No. 1659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Reduction in Coal Based Engine
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1659 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## REDUCTION IN COAL BASED ENGINE

## 1659.  SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  technologies  currently  being  used  on  railway routes  and  coaches  in  the  country  and  the  extent  to  which  the success has been achieved through their use;
- (b) whether Railways has reduced the use of coal for its engines and switched to diesel and electric locomotives in view of technological advancement;
- (c) if so, the details and reasons therefor;
- (d) the  details  of  the  financial  expenses  incurred  in  operating  coal, diesel and electric locomotives;
- (e) whether  any  form  of  non-conventional  energy  is  being  used  for pulling railway coaches/goods trains;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) the details of the sectors and sections where coal-powered railway engines are currently being operated; and
- (h) the other similar ways to popularise rail based tourism?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (h) : Indian Railways is continuously upgrading its infrastructure and  rolling  stock  by  adopting  the  latest  technologies  to  enhance

safety, punctuality, reliability, and passenger comfort. These upgrades reflect  a  focused  effort  to  modernize  the  system  and  meet  growing passenger expectations.

With  the  adoption  of  modern  technology  and  Electrification  of  rail network,  there  has  been  reduction  in  the  use  of  coal  based  engines and Diesel engines.

Electrification of railway network on Indian Railways has been taken up in mission mode. So far, about 99.2% of Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified. The electrification in remaining network has been taken up. Electrification carried out during 2014-25 and before 2014 is as under:

| Period                       | Route Km   |
|------------------------------|------------|
| Before 2014 (about 60 years) | 21,801     |
| 2014-25                      | 46,900     |

Indian Railways is now manufacturing and commissioning state of the art three-phase IGBT technology based locomotives. These locomotives  have  regenerative  features  and  are  therefore  able  to regenerate part of the energy consumed during braking and therefore more energy efficient.

The coal-fired steam engines are being utilised on UNESCO accredited mountain  railways,  seasonal  steam  hauled  trains  and  in  chartered trains in association with ICRTC. Their utilisation is on railway routes having heritage values.

Indian Railways has planned to progressively meet its electric power requirement  for  traction  purpose  through  renewable  energy  sources with combination of solar, wind and other renewable sources based on

strategic  power  procurement  planning,  thereby  reducing  its  carbon emissions.

Till  November  2025,  about  812  Mega  Watt  (MW)  of  solar  plants  and about  93  MW  of  wind  power  plants  have  been  commissioned,  which are meeting traction requirement of IR. Further, 100 MW of renewable power  under Round the Clock (RTC) mode tied up  from solar Energy Corporation  of  India  (SECI)  has  also  started  flowing  for  traction purpose.

In addition to this, 1,500 MW renewable capacity under RTC mode has been  tied  up  to  meet  traction  power  requirement.  This  is  hybrid solution consisting of solar, wind and storage component.

During  year  2023-24,  the  expenditure  on  traction  on  Indian  Railways was Rs 29,614 cr which included all type traction.

Indian Railways has also taken up a state of the art project for running of its first hydrogen train, on pilot basis, as per specifications framed by the Research, Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) to demonstrate the use of hydrogen powered train technology in Railways.  The  project  establishes  a  commitment  of  Indian  Railways towards  advancement  in  alternative  energy  powered  train  travel thereby  ensuring  a  cleaner  and  greener  future  for  the  country's transportation sector.

Modernization and Improvement/up-gradation of Rolling Stock to enhance safety, convenience and comfort of passengers is a continuous and ongoing process on Indian Railways.

The work of replacement of earlier ICF coaches with safer and more modern  LHB  coaches  has  been  taken  up  in  a  phased  manner. Technologically  superior  LHB  coaches  have  better  riding,  improved aesthetics and features like Lightweight design, Anti climbing

features,  Air  suspension  (Secondary)  with  failure  indication  system, stainless steel shell and disc brake system etc.

Further, with a view to improve travel experience of the passengers, Indian Railways has introduced indigenously designed and manufactured  Vande  Bharat  trains  with  modern  coaches,  advanced safety features and passenger amenities. Presently, 164 Vande Bharat services are in operation on the Indian Railway network.

These new Vande Bharat Trains have following superior features:

- i. Fitted with KAVACH.
- ii. Jerk Free Semi-Permanent couplers.
- iii. Centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors and Fully Sealed wider gangways.
- iv. Emergency  Alarm  Push  buttons  and  Talk  Back  Units  on  all Coaches.
- v. Improved fire safety - Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
- vi. Higher acceleration with design/operating speed of 180/160 KMPH.
- vii. Driver-Guard communication with voice recording facility & Crash hardened memory.
- viii. Air  conditioning  units  with  indigenously  developed  UV-C  lamp based disinfection system.
- ix. Better Ride Comfort.
- x. CCTVs in all Coaches.
- xi. For Divyangjan passengers special lavatory in the driving coaches
12. on each end.
- xii. Coach  condition  monitoring  System  (CCMS)  display  with  remote monitoring.

Railways  have  developed  fully  non-AC  modern  train  named  as  Amrit Bharat express. Already 30 services are in operation. Presently, these modern trains comprise of 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches.

These trains have following enhanced features and amenities:

- i. Better aesthetics of seat and berths with enhanced look & feel on the lines of Vande Bharat Sleeper.
- ii. Jerk Free Semi-Automatic Couplers.
- iii. Improved Crashworthiness in coaches by provision of crash tube.
- iv. Provision of CCTV system in all coaches and Luggage room.
- v. Improved designs of toilets.
- vi. Improved design of Ladder for ease of climbing on to the berth.
- vii. Improved LED Light fitting & Charging Sockets.
8. viii.
9. Provision of EP assisted braking system.
- ix. Aerosol  based  fire  suppression  system  in  toilets  and  electrical cubicles.
- x. USB Type-A and Type-C mobile charging sockets.
- xi. Emergency Talk Back system for two-way communication between Passenger and Guard/Train Manager.
13. xii.
14. Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
- xiii. Fully  sealed  gangways  with  quick  release  mechanism  for  easy
16. attachment and detachment

To  promote  rail  based  tourism,  Indian  Railways  have  issued  'Bharat Gaurav  Trains'  policy  in  November'  2021,  under  which  theme  based tourist  circuit  trains  are  being  run  with  the  objective  to  showcase India's rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places. As per the themes/itineraries for operation of Bharat Gaurav tourist circuit trains which may include tourist circuits of any part of India based on market this policy, service providers have  full flexibility to decide demand, commercial viability etc.

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