Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train, marking the country's entry into hydrogen fuel cell-based rail transport. The train will operate on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana under the Northern Railway.
The launch marks the first use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the Indian Railways. Instead of diesel, the train generates electricity through hydrogen fuel cells, offering a cleaner mode of propulsion. The pilot project also includes dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure.
Ahead of the inauguration, Modi said the development places India among a select group of nations operating hydrogen-powered trains.
“India has become one of the select group of nations that have such trains. This will go a long way in ensuring that India adopts clean technology in the railway sector,” PM Modi posted on X ahead of the launch.
The train has been developed as a pilot project to evaluate the performance of hydrogen technology and support the future adoption of environmentally friendly rail transport across the country.
The 10-coach trainset is powered by a 1,200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. It has been approved to operate at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, while its design speed is 110 kmph. The train can accommodate around 2,600 passengers and has been developed from the design stage through prototype manufacturing.
It will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction and Sonipat, while also serving several intermediate stations. The proposed halts include Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butane Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New.
With the launch, India joins a small group of countries exploring hydrogen-powered railway technology, including Germany, Japan, China and the United States.
Germany became the first country to introduce a hydrogen-powered passenger train with the Alstom Coradia iLint. In 2022, the train completed a record journey of 1,175 km without refuelling. The zero-emission trains were deployed on the Bremervorde route in Lower Saxony as an alternative to conventional diesel services.
Germany is also expected to introduce three additional hydrogen-powered trains on the Sudostbayernbahn network this year. According to Hydrogen Europe, the trains will operate on the 32.2-km Muhldorf-Tubling-Burghausen route using roof-mounted fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries for zero-emission travel.
Japan is expected to introduce its first hydrogen hybrid train by the end of fiscal 2027. Named "Hybari", the train will operate on the Tsurumi and Nambu lines in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo.
In the United States, California launched the country's first hydrogen-powered passenger train, Zemu, in San Bernardino in 2024.
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