Media365
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana on July 17, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition towards clean and sustainable rail transportation. The launch forms part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab.
The hydrogen fuel cell train is a first-of-its-kind initiative for Indian Railways, generating electricity onboard through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, the system produces electricity without combustion, with water vapour being its only direct emission, making it one of the cleanest forms of rail propulsion.
With over 99 per cent of India’s Broad Gauge railway network already electrified, the hydrogen train represents the next phase of the country’s decarbonisation strategy. The train has an operational speed of 75 kmph on the Jind-Sonipat route and a design speed of 110 kmph.
Unlike most hydrogen passenger trains operating globally, which typically have two to four coaches, India’s train has been configured as a 10-coach train with a capacity of around 2,600 passengers, demonstrating the scalability of hydrogen technology for high-capacity passenger transport.
The train comprises two Hydrogen Driving Power Cars and eight trailer coaches. Each power car is equipped with proton exchange membrane fuel cells, lithium iron phosphate batteries and hydrogen storage cylinders, together producing 2,400 kW of power to propel the train. It will initially operate on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway.
Supporting the project is India’s first integrated railway hydrogen ecosystem at Jind, where hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, compressed, and dispensed for refuelling. The facility can store nearly 3,000 kg of hydrogen and has been approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
Addressing concerns around hydrogen’s flammability, Indian Railways has equipped both the train and the refuelling infrastructure with multiple layers of safety systems, including hydrogen leak detectors, flame and smoke sensors, continuous ventilation, automatic shut-off mechanisms and emergency response systems.
The entire hydrogen ecosystem has undergone independent safety assessment by Germany-based TÜV SÜD and complies with international safety standards, including NFPA-2 and the ISO 19880 series.
Designed, engineered and integrated in India, the project has been developed under the leadership of Indian Railways, with the Research Designs and Standards Organisation formulating technical specifications, Medha Servo Drives integrating the trainset, and the Integral Coach Factory contributing to its exterior design.
Globally, hydrogen-powered trains remain at a nascent stage, with countries such as Germany, France, Italy, China and Japan operating pilot projects or limited commercial services. Indian Railways said the country’s hydrogen train stands out for its larger capacity and the creation of a complete hydrogen rail ecosystem, reinforcing India’s ambitions under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and its long-term net-zero goals.
