India's hydrogen train may soon hit 110 km/h; The railway is exploring new routes

Indian Railways is working to run the country’s first hydrogen-powered train at speeds of up to 110 km/h after successfully completing trials at 120 km/h, the railway company’s chairman and managing director Satish Kumar said on Sunday.

“The operating speed of the hydrogen train has so far been kept at 75 kmph. However, trials have been completed for a speed of 120 kmph. After that, work is now underway to run it at a maximum speed of 110 kmph,” Kumar told reporters in Indore.

The railways is also consulting various stakeholders to determine the routes on which the hydrogen-powered train could be operated. Technical requirements and measures to ensure a constant supply of hydrogen fuel are also assessed.

The hydrogen train runs on the Jind-Sonipat route

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on July 17. The train is currently running on the 89 km Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.

Unlike conventional electric trains that draw power from catenary lines, a hydrogen fuel cell trainset generates electricity on board through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The process produces water vapor and heat as its only byproducts.

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The technology involves no combustion, smoke or carbon tailpipe emissions, making hydrogen-powered trains a cleaner alternative to conventional diesel-powered trains on non-electrified routes.

More Vande Bharat sleeper trains in the pipeline

Kumar also said that India’s first Vande Bharat express train is currently running between Howrah and Kamakhya in Guwahati. Four more Vande Bharat sleeper trains have been completed and are expected to be formally commissioned in the coming days.

The railways is expected to receive 11 more Vande Bharat sleeper trains this year, he said.

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As many as 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains are being manufactured under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each train is expected to take one to one-and-a-half years to complete, according to Kumar.

125 special trains scheduled for Simhastha 2028

Railways are also gearing up for the Simhastha festival to be held in Ujjain in 2028.

According to Kumar, the national carrier plans to run 100 to 125 special trains during the religious gathering. Infrastructure is also being strengthened to handle the expected increase in passenger traffic during the festival.

Kumar said steps are also being taken to tackle the problem of rats in trains along with strengthening the existing systems.

He said artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated with CCTV cameras to enhance security at railway stations and trains.

On ₹18,500 crore Indore-Manmad railway line, Kumar said land acquisition for the project, which has been approved in the financial year 2024-25, is progressing rapidly.

The ambitious project is expected to be completed in four to five years, he said.

Along with senior officials, Kumar reviewed several railway projects in and around Indore, including the construction of various railway lines, redevelopment of Indore railway station and other infrastructure works.

(With inputs from news agency PTI)