First Electric Train Leaving CSMT on February 3, 1925, During Its Inaugural Run. |
Electric Multiple Units (EMU), also known as local trains in Mumbai, have completed 100 years. On February 3, 1925, history was made when India’s first electric train, consisting of four coaches, ran between Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, CSMT) and Kurla on the Harbour Line.
On that historic day in 1925, Sir Leslie Wilson, then Governor of Bombay, arrived at Victoria Terminus with Lady Wilson in a regal horse-drawn carriage to grace the inauguration ceremony. The first electric train—comprising four coaches—was flagged off at 10:00 AM from Platform No. 2 amid great fanfare. The honor of driving this pioneering Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train was given to Jehangir Framji Daruwala, who earned his place in history as India’s first motorman for an electric train.
“This event marked the dawn of electrified rail transport in India and across Asia, bringing about a revolutionary shift in railway operations. Electrification significantly improved efficiency, reduced travel time, enhanced punctuality, and provided a cost-effective and sustainable mode of transport,” said an official of Indian Railway.
Motor Coach of first electric train. |
“The electrification of railways transformed train travel in India, eliminating the need for frequent engine changes, reducing delays, improving reliability, and lowering operational costs. It also enhanced the cleanliness of rail transport by reducing dependence on coal-powered steam engines,” further added official.
“As Indian Railways celebrates 100 years of electrification, this milestone serves as a testament to its journey from a single electrified route in 1925 to an extensive network today” he said.
According to a Dr. Jaideep Gupta, Additional Member (RE), Railway Board, in September 1825 first-ever train operated in the world, while April 16, 1853, is etched in Indian Railway history as the day the first train ran in India between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane.
On February 3, 1925, while returning from Kurla, the first electric train crossing the Sandhurst Road bridge. |
However, February 3, 1925, marked another milestone – the first electric-powered train journey in India, from Victoria Terminus (VT ) ( now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Kurla in Mumbai.
As 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of electric traction in India, the country is also on the brink of achieving 100% electrification of its broad gauge network. This achievement, just as monumental as the first rail operation in India, signifies a century of progress in railway electrification.
” The introduction of Railways in India took just 28 years after the world’s first train, but the adoption of electric traction was a slower process. While the world witnessed its first electric passenger train in Germany in 1879, it took India 46 more years to introduce this technology. Werner von Siemens is credited with presenting the world’s first electric train in 1879, but India saw its first electric train only in 1925″ further stated Dr Gupta in a article about electrification of Indian Railways.
The first electric train, ready to leave VT (now CSMT), on February 3, 1925, during its inaugural run. |
Electric traction quickly demonstrated clear advantages over steam engines, particularly in terms of power, acceleration, and efficiency. Electric locomotives required less maintenance, produced no pollution, and were capable of hauling longer, heavier trains over steep inclines.
The initial high costs of electrification were a barrier, but the benefits—particularly for suburban commuter traffic—soon became evident. The technology was particularly suited for routes with heavy traffic and steep gradients, making it ideal for the urban areas of Bombay, now Mumbai.
In the early 20th century, Mumbai’s rapidly growing population needed a solution for its increasing commuter traffic. Steam locomotives struggled to manage the steep inclines of routes towards Pune and Nashik, further emphasizing the need for electrification.
In 1904, W.H. White, the Chief Engineer of the Bombay Presidency government, proposed electrifying the two primary rail networks serving the city: the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP) and the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI), now known as the Central and Western Railways. World War I delayed the project, but by 1920, electrification plans for the Bombay-Pune/Igatpuri/Vasai lines were approved.
First Electric Train Leaving CSMT on February 3, 1925, During Its Inaugural Run. |
The first electric train in India ran on February 3, 1925, using 1500 Volts (V) Direct Current (DC) between CSMT (then Victoria Terminus) and Kurla, a distance of 16 kilometers. This marked the beginning of clean electric transport in India, and India became the 24th country worldwide to operate electric railways and the third in Asia.
Alongside Mumbai, the South Indian Railway (SIR) began electrifying its suburban network, with the Madras Beach (now Chennai) to Tambaram line using the same 1500 V DC system. Electrification was completed by 1931, and this section remains one of the few Meter Gauge lines ever electrified in India.
By the time India gained independence in 1947, only about 388 kilometers of rail lines were electrified, primarily around Mumbai and Madras.
Earlier, on Thursday, Dharam Veer Meena, General Manager of Central Railway, unveiled the logo commemorating 100 years of electrification and launched a jingle to mark the beginning of the centenary celebrations of electrification on Central Railway.
According to Central Railway, The journey of the four-coach EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) train marked the beginning of electrified rail transport in India.
Subsequently, in 1927, eight-coach EMU trains were introduced on the Harbour and Main Lines of Central Railway. Later, in 1961, nine-car EMU trains were introduced on Central Railway. In 1986, 12-car local train services started, followed by the introduction of 15-car local services in 2016. The first AC local service on Central Railway was introduced in 2020.
However, the 15-car and air-conditioned local services were first introduced on Western Railway before Central Railway. But, the first EMU—a four-coach train—was launched on Central Railway in 1925.
Milestones in Mumbai’s Suburban Train Electrification:
1925 – 4-car on Harbour Line
1927 – 8-car on Main Line & Harbour Line
1961 – 9-car on Main Line
1986 – 12-car on Main Line
1987 – 12-car towards Karjat
2008 – 12-car towards Kasara
2010 – 12-car on Transharbour Line
2012 – 15-car on Main Line
2016 – 12-car on Harbour Line
2020 – AC local on Main Line
