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Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind railway station in Haryana on Friday. With this launch, India has joined a small group of countries that use hydrogen-powered trains, and a major milestone has been achieved. The project is part of Indian Railways' efforts to promote cleaner and greener transport, as hydrogen is considered one of the cleanest fuels.
India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train
Speaking at the event, PM Modi said that just as the Mumbai-Thane train is remembered as India's first railway service, Jind will now be remembered for the country's first hydrogen train. The pilot project will help Indian Railways study the use of hydrogen trains on remote and heritage routes where railway electrification may not be practical.
Indian Railways has already electrified more than 99% of its broad-gauge network, reducing its dependence on diesel. Unlike electric trains that draw power from overhead wires, the hydrogen train produces electricity on board using hydrogen fuel cells.
India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train Operations & Features
The new train will operate between Jind and Sonipat under the Northern Railway. Train number 74010 will leave Jind at 7:40 am and reach Sonipat at 9:40 am. On the return journey, train number 74009 will depart Sonipat at 10:40 am and reach Jind at 1:00 pm. The train will stop at stations including Jind City, Pandu Pindara, Lalit Khera, Bhambeva, Ishapur Kheri, Butana, Khandrai, Gohana, Rabhra, Lath, Mohana, Haryana, and Barwasni.
The hydrogen train has 10 passenger coaches, making it the longest hydrogen-powered passenger train in the world. It can carry around 2,600 passengers and has a maximum design speed of 110 kmph. On the Jind-Sonipat route, it will run at up to 75 kmph.
The train is fully designed and developed in India using indigenous technology. It uses Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology, where hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity. The only by-products are water vapour and heat, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel trains. A hydrogen storage and refuelling facility has also been set up at Jind with advanced safety systems to support the train's operations.