India has successfully launched its first hydrogen-powered train, joining a select group of advanced nations trialling the technology to clean up rail transport and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The landmark project marks a major milestone in a wider government push to modernise one of the largest rail networks on the planet while sharply reducing carbon emissions.
The ten-carriage train will travel along a fifty-five-mile route between the towns of Jind and Sonipat in the northern state of Haryana. It is driven by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system, which railway officials have described as the most powerful propulsion system of its kind anywhere in the world.
Unlike traditional diesel engines, these eco-friendly trains use specialised fuel cells to generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. The chemical process results in zero harmful emissions, releasing only clean water and steam into the atmosphere.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally flagged off the inaugural journey. In a statement published on social media, the prime minister hailed the launch as a very significant day in the country's journey towards self-reliance and sustainable development.
The railway ministry stated that the new train was developed entirely within the country. However, senior officials later acknowledged to journalists that they had to import several vital components, including the advanced fuel cells themselves, from abroad.
Alongside the train's debut, the ministry opened a major hydrogen storage and refuelling facility in Jind. The depot has a total capacity of three thousand kilograms and is designed specifically to support ongoing hydrogen rail operations in the region.
A senior railway official confirmed that the pilot scheme cost around twelve million dollars to complete. The official admitted that the technology is currently far pricier to run than a conventional diesel or electric service but noted that costs are expected to fall rapidly as the technology becomes more mature.
With the launch, India has joined an elite bracket of countries, including Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, that are currently testing or running hydrogen rolling stock.
The massive network has undergone an extensive transformation since the very first passenger steam train departed from Mumbai in 1853. Recently, New Delhi has channelled billions of pounds into upgrading infrastructure, improving safety standards, and expanding capacity.
Official figures indicate that the vast network carried over seven billion passengers and more than one and a half billion tonnes of freight last year alone.
India has also been rolling out its own domestically designed high-speed Vande Bharat trains, which can achieve speeds of up to 112 miles per hour. Furthermore, work is currently underway on the country’s first proper bullet train line using Japanese Shinkansen technology, with the first section expected to start carrying passengers in 2027.
