NewsFlash Daily™
17 July 
India enters the global hydrogen rail league with its first indigenously developed hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat route
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind railway station in Haryana, marking a major milestone in the country's clean mobility mission. Developed using indigenous technology, the 10-coach train will operate between Jind and Sonipat, positioning India among a select group of nations operating hydrogen-powered rail services while advancing sustainable transportation.
Jind: India marked a historic milestone in its railway and clean energy journey on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind Railway Station in Haryana. The launch signals a significant step towards sustainable rail transportation and places India among a select group of nations that have introduced hydrogen-powered passenger trains.
The indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell train will operate on the 89-kilometre Jind–Sonipat route under Northern Railway. Designed and built using indigenous technology under the 'Make in India' initiative, the project reflects Indian Railways' commitment to innovation, energy efficiency and environmentally sustainable transport solutions.
India's First Hydrogen Train Begins Operations
The newly launched train is one of the world's largest hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets, comprising 10 coaches, including two hydrogen-powered driving cars and eight trailer coaches. It has an overall passenger capacity of around 2,600 people, making it among the highest-capacity hydrogen trains globally.
The train is supported by India's largest hydrogen refuelling facility established at Jind, ensuring smooth operations on the pilot corridor. The project has been developed through collaboration between the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and Medha Servo Drives.
"The launch of India's first hydrogen-powered train marks a significant milestone in the country's transition towards cleaner and more sustainable railway transportation."
Hydrogen Train Sets New Benchmark in Green Mobility
The train operates using hydrogen fuel cell technology, which generates electricity onboard by combining hydrogen with oxygen. Unlike diesel-powered trains, the process produces water vapour as the primary emission, resulting in near-zero emissions at the point of operation.
The hydrogen-powered train has been equipped with advanced multi-layer safety systems capable of detecting hydrogen leaks, overheating, flames and smoke. Dedicated monitoring systems and trained operational staff have also been deployed to ensure safe operations.
India Joins Global Hydrogen Rail Club
With the commissioning of the service, India joins countries including Germany, Japan, China and the United States that have adopted hydrogen-powered railway technology as part of their clean transportation initiatives.
The launch is expected to strengthen India's long-term strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote alternative energy solutions in public transport.
"The project demonstrates Indian Railways' commitment to green mobility, innovation and sustainable infrastructure development."
How Does the Hydrogen-Powered Train Work?
Unlike conventional diesel locomotives, the hydrogen train carries hydrogen fuel onboard. Inside the fuel cells, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity that powers the traction motors driving the train. Since the process does not involve combustion, harmful carbon emissions are virtually eliminated, making hydrogen technology a cleaner alternative for railway operations.
The train is expected to serve as a pilot project for evaluating hydrogen-powered mobility in India and may pave the way for similar deployments on additional routes in the future if the technology proves operationally and economically viable.
