Modern trends in Indian railways' traction systems include:
1. Increasing electrification of track from 60% to fully electrified to use cleaner electric locomotives.
2. Upgrading from single 25kV AC and 1500V DC systems to a unified 2x25kV AC system for better voltage regulation over long distances.
3. Converting older DC traction motors to newer high speed AC motors for higher efficiency, power, and regenerative braking ability.
4. Modernizing equipment like using SF6 circuit breakers, dry resin transformers, and computerized signaling, monitoring, and control systems.