First Hydrogen, Now LNG? India’s First LNG Train Rolls Out From Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Station

India’s railway network has added another alternative-fuel experiment to its tracks. After introducing its first hydrogen-powered train in July, Indian Railways has now rolled out the country’s first LNG-diesel dual-fuel train, flagged off from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad on September 27.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah flagged off the train from Gujarat’s Sabarmati station as part of a wider set of railway projects launched in the Ahmedabad division.

The move is aimed at reducing diesel consumption and exploring cleaner fuel options for railway operations.

How Does India’s First LNG Train Work?

The train uses a dual-fuel system fitted to two Driving Power Cars (DPCs) at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot. Each DPC has a power capacity of 1,400 horsepower

and has been modified to accommodate LNG alongside conventional diesel.

The technology allows LNG to replace around 40% of diesel consumption, according to railway trial data. The system can also continue operating on diesel depending on fuel availability, giving the train greater operational flexibility.

Before being introduced, the converted power cars completed more than 2,000 kilometres of field trials to assess the performance and reliability of the technology under operating conditions.

The inaugural service ran between Sabarmati and Mahesana Junction. The train has eight coaches with non-air-conditioned chair-car seating. However, its regular route and operational schedule are yet to be finalised.

Can LNG Make Train Travel Cleaner?

The primary objective is to reduce dependence on diesel rather than eliminate fossil fuels altogether.

Indian Railways expects the dual-fuel technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, compared with conventional diesel operation.

The technology is therefore being positioned as a transition option for railway services where diesel-powered traction is still used. It also allows the existing engine architecture to be adapted rather than requiring an entirely new propulsion system.

There is, however, a distinction worth keeping in mind: LNG is still a fossil fuel. So while replacing a portion of diesel with LNG can reduce certain emissions, the train should not be described as a zero-emission service.

What Does This Mean For Indian Train Passengers?

The LNG train is part of a broader effort to reduce diesel consumption across the railway network while expanding electrification and testing alternative technologies.

For travellers, that means the most immediate significance of the LNG train may not be a different onboard experience. Instead, it represents another attempt to change what powers trains behind the scenes.

With hydrogen, LNG and large-scale electrification now forming different parts of India’s railway transition, the country is experimenting with more than one route towards reducing its dependence on conventional diesel traction.