Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on 17 July 2026 from Jind in Haryana. The indigenous train runs on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route, has 12 intermediate stops, and uses hydrogen fuel cell technology that emits water vapour as the only by-product.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Hydrogen fuel cell trains use hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical process to generate electricity. The process produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions at the point of use, and the only exhaust from the fuel cell is water vapour. The train launched in Haryana has a 10-coach configuration and a passenger capacity of about 2,600. It has a maximum approved speed of 75 kmph and a design speed of 110 kmph.
Indian Railways and Indigenous Development
The train was developed by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Each driving power car carries a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, giving the train a combined power output of 2,400 kW. Indian Railways has also set up a dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling facility at Jind for the train’s operation. The project is linked to the Hydrogen for Heritage initiative, which was launched in 2023 for hydrogen train deployment on selected routes.
Hydrogen Trains in Global Context
Hydrogen-powered trains are rail vehicles that use hydrogen as an energy source instead of diesel or overhead electric supply. Germany, Japan, China, and the United States are among the countries that already have operational hydrogen-powered trains.
Important Facts for Exams
- Hydrogen fuel cell trains convert chemical energy into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction.
- Water vapour is the only direct by-product of hydrogen fuel cell operation at the point of use.
- Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, is one of the major coach manufacturing units of Indian Railways.
- Hydrogen for Heritage is an Indian Railways initiative launched in 2023 for hydrogen train deployment.
