India switches on first hydrogen train

Type: News Repost

Prime minister Narendra Modi today flagged off India's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered train, marking a significant milestone in the nation's journey towards sustainable and green rail transportation. The train will initially operate on the 89 km Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana.

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Indian rime minister Narendra Modi today flagged off India’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered train, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards sustainable and green rail transportation. The train will initially operate on the 89 km Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana. The trainset was designed, engineered and integrated in India and will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction and Sonipat while serving intermediate stations.

The train generates electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells, which combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water vapor as the only by-product. The train consists of two hydrogen driving power cars and eight trailer coaches, with a total passenger capacity of approximately 2,600.

Each driving power car houses fuel cells, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and hydrogen storage cylinders that work together to provide traction power while ensuring reliable operation under varying operating conditions. According to Indian Railways, each driving power car delivers 1.2 MW of traction power, together providing a combined output of 2.4 MW, enough to push the entire train at speeds up to 110 km/h.

The train will initially operate at up to 75 km/h on the Jind–Sonipat section. Indian Railways said the train is equipped with multi-layer safety systems capable of detecting hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke. Complementing the rolling stock, Indian Railways has established a complete hydrogen ecosystem at Jind, comprising hydrogen production through electrolysis, storage, compression and dispensing infrastructure to support train operations.

The railway hydrogen refuelling facility at Jind operates in three stages: First, hydrogen is produced on site through electrolysis, in which water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity at the green hydrogen plant, and is then stored safely in dedicated storage tanks. Second, hydrogen is compressed to 500 bar, enabling a larger quantity to be stored in a smaller volume.

Finally, it is dispensed through two independent hydrogen dispensers at a regulated pressure of 350 bar, allowing both hydrogen driving power cars to be refuelled simultaneously and reducing turnaround time. The facility stores nearly 3,000 kg of hydrogen at a time, sufficient to support regular operations of the trainset, and its storage and supply system has been approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

The hydrogen fuel cell powered train was developed under the leadership of Indian Railways, with Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) formulating the technical specifications and leading the design approval process. The trainset has been integrated by Medha Servo Drives, while Integral Coach Factory (ICF) contributed to the train’s theme and exterior design. Hydrogen-powered trains are still at a nascent stage globally.

Germany became the first country to introduce commercial hydrogen passenger trains, while France, Italy, China, Japan and a few other countries are pursuing pilot projects or limited deployments. However, these trains typically comprise two to four coaches and are intended primarily for regional passenger services.

Indian Railways is also exploring the deployment of hydrogen technology on heritage railways, including the Kalka–Shimla route, by leveraging the experience gained through the Jind–Sonipat Hydrogen Train project.

Source

• PV Magazine (2026-07-17)
• Original article: India switches on first hydrogen train