New Delhi: The Railway Board under the Ministry of Railways has approved the launch of India’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train, marking a major
clean transport move for the country’s rail network. The train will run on the 89-kilometer Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
The service is expected to carry more than 2,600 passengers daily with two round trips and a top speed of up to 75 kmph. For daily passengers, this will not just be another local train. It will be India’s first real taste of hydrogen rail travel, and yes, the exhaust will be water vapour, not diesel smoke.
India’s first hydrogen train gets Railway Board approval
The new train is a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit, or DEMU, which has been retrofitted with hydrogen fuel cell technology. The 10-coach train will use 1,200 kW hydrogen fuel cells to run the service.
The project is being seen as a key step in India’s green mobility push. It supports the country’s green hydrogen mission and its larger target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.
The train will serve passengers on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana, giving the state a place in India’s clean rail transport story.
What makes this hydrogen train different?
Unlike diesel trains, the hydrogen-powered train will emit only water vapour during operation. That makes it cleaner for local routes, especially in areas where diesel trains still run.
Details include:
- The route length is 89 kilometers
- The train has 10 coaches
- It can run at up to 75 kmph
- It is expected to serve over 2,600 passengers daily
- It will operate two round trips
Trial run cleared before commercial launch
The train’s oscillation trial was completed in March. The test was conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation, or RDSO, as part of the evaluation process.
Once the train enters commercial service, India will join countries such as Germany, Sweden, Japan and China, which already operate hydrogen-powered trains.
