Indian Railways Plans Hydrogen-Powered Toy Train for Kalka-Shimla Heritage Route
The Ministry of Railways in India is advancing plans to introduce a hydrogen-powered toy train on the Kalka-Shimla railway line, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This initiative is part of the 'Hydrogen for Heritage' program, which aims to deploy hydrogen-powered trains on select heritage routes to reduce pollution and promote cleaner transportation. Unlike traditional diesel trains, these new trains will utilize fuel-cell technology, generating electricity with water as the primary byproduct. The Union Government initially announced plans in 2023 to operate 35 hydrogen trains under this program, including one specifically for the Kalka-Shimla route. Following this, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to explore the feasibility of hydrogen trains for the historic line. A survey of the route has since been completed, and a site at Barog railway station has been identified for the construction of a hydrogen fuel plant.
