A REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE RAILWAY TRANSPORT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA, INDIA, AND EGYPT

Abstract

Sustainable railway transport is increasingly recognized as a strategy for reducing transport-sector greenhouse gas emissions while promoting growth and inclusive mobility in developing economies. However, implementation varies because of differences in infrastructure, institutional capacity, financing, and policy continuity. This review synthesizes evidence on sustainable rail transport innovations and implementation across Nigeria, India, and Egypt, focusing on railway electrification, energy efficiency, modal shift, and governance frameworks. The study adopted a scoping review design following the PRISMA-ScR framework, drawing on 165 peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025 and complemented by qualitative analysis of official transport policy documents. The findings reveal substantial disparities. India has achieved near-complete broad-gauge railway electrification through institutional coordination and sustained investment, while Egypt is rapidly modernizing its rail sector through a 2,000-km electrified high-speed railway despite its diesel-operated conventional network. Nigeria’s rail system remains diesel-powered, with limited electrification, weak intermodal integration, fragmented governance, and heavy reliance on external financing. The review demonstrates that technological innovation alone cannot deliver sustainable railway systems without governance and long-term policy commitment. It recommends phased corridor electrification, governance reforms, and multimodal integration for Nigeria; accelerated operational integration and maintenance capacity for Egypt; and expanded renewable-energy deployment and knowledge transfer for India.