The first electric train was invented by the German engineer Werner von Siemens in 1879. Siemens introduced a small electric locomotive at the Berlin Electrical Exhibition, which showcased the potential of electric traction for rail transport.
This early electric train ran on a set of tracks and used an external electrical supply, demonstrating that electric power could effectively drive a locomotive. While it was not a commercial product, Siemens’s invention paved the way for future developments in electric trains.
Although electric trains existed in various forms, it was Siemens’s innovation that marked the beginning of using electricity as a practical means of powering trains, leading to the electric rail systems we have today.