Tamil NaduFriday, 11 September 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Southern Railway completes 100% broad-gauge electrification across 5,068 km
Southern Railway has completed full electrification of its 5,068 km broad-gauge network, marking a major railway infrastructure milestone.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In September 2026, Southern Railway announced that its entire 5,068 km broad-gauge network had been fully electrified, with the last remaining Pattukottai–Karaikudi 71 km section completed.
Key specifics
- Southern Railway’s total broad-gauge network length is 5,068 km.
- The last pending section was the 71 km Pattukottai–Karaikudi route.
- Officials said the electrification work has now reached 100% completion in Southern Railway.
- Across India, more than 99.6% of broad-gauge routes have been electrified.
- Electric train service in Madras began on May 11, 1931, and Chennai–Tambaram electrification started in 1968.
Exam lens
Question type: Tamil Nadu transport and railway infrastructure. TNPSC may ask the 5,068 km figure, the Pattukottai–Karaikudi 71 km stretch, and the historical dates 1931 and 1968.