Southern Railway has now achieved a major milestone by completing the electrification of its entire Broad Gauge (BG) network covering 5,068 Route Kilometres (RKM) across the Zone. With the successful completion of electrification works on the final 71 RKM section between Pattukkottai and Karaikkudi, Southern Railway has attained 100% electrification of its Broad Gauge network.
The statutory inspection of the newly electrified Pattukkottai–Karaikkudi section by Shri Ganesh, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Southern Railway, was successfully completed yesterday on 09th September, 2026. This final 71 RKM section marks a crucial link in the completion of Southern Railway’s entire BG electrification programme.
With the entire 5,068 RKM Broad Gauge network now electrified, Southern Railway can facilitate seamless electric train operations across the Zone without the need for traction change. Complete electrification will enhance operational flexibility, improve locomotive utilisation and contribute to more reliable and efficient train services. It will also support faster movement of trains while reducing dependence on fossil fuels, reinforcing Southern Railway’s commitment to greener, cleaner and more sustainable rail transportation.
The completion of 100% electrification marks a significant milestone in Southern Railway’s ongoing modernisation efforts. The fully electrified BG network will strengthen operational efficiency, enhance energy efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable and future-ready railway system.
Southern Railway’s journey towards electric traction began on 11 May 1931, when Madras became the second metropolitan city in India, after Bombay, to introduce electric traction. This was followed by the commissioning of 25 kV AC electrification between Madras Beach and Tambaram in 1968, marking another significant milestone in the Zone’s electrification journey.