PM Modi in Haryana unveils India’s first hydrogen powered train | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, joining the country’s select group of nations running hydrogen-powered passenger trains.
Powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, the 10-coach train will run on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route, covering the distance in about two hours with halts at 12 intermediate stations, and will accommodate about 2,600 passengers.
Calling the service a successful example of the government’s “Make in India” initiative, Prime Minister Modi said it represented a major technological milestone for Indian Railways.
“Indian Railways has taken a major step today and this hydrogen train from Jindu to Sonipat is the most powerful hydrogen train in the world,” the prime minister said while addressing a public gathering.
The launch puts India among a small group of countries, including Germany, to deploy hydrogen-powered passenger trains as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions from rail transport.
A step towards cleaner mobility
Compared to diesel trains, they eliminate exhaust emissions, lower dependence on fossil fuels and fossil fuel imports, and run with significantly less noise. Unlike conventional electric trains, they do not require continuous overhead electrification infrastructure, as electricity is generated on board via hydrogen fuel cells, making them a clean and efficient solution.
The technology also reduces dependence on fossil fuels and electricity generated by thermal energy, while eliminating the need for continuous overhead electrification infrastructure along each route.
According to Indian Railways, the train is equipped with a 3,200-horsepower propulsion system and a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell power unit. With a capacity of approximately 2,600 passengers, it is among the longest hydrogen-powered passenger train sets in the world.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said testing is also underway on the Sonipat-Delhi section with plans to eventually extend the service to the state capital.
Part of a green railway crossing
The hydrogen train is part of a broader push by Indian Railways towards cleaner transport as it seeks to reduce carbon emissions and diversify its energy sources.
Globally, Germany pioneered commercial hydrogen-powered passenger rail services in 2018, followed by pilot projects in countries including the US, China and Japan. While the technology faces challenges such as high infrastructure costs and hydrogen storage requirements, it is increasingly seen as a viable solution for decarbonizing rail routes where full electrification may not be feasible.
Indian Railways plans to use learnings from this deployment to evaluate hydrogen traction across historic and tourist rail corridors.
