New Delhi: India marked a major milestone in sustainable transportation on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country’s first hydrogen-powered train, a pilot project that will operate on the 89-km Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana under Northern Railway.
The launch introduces hydrogen fuel cell technology to the Indian Railways network for the first time, positioning India among a select group of countries adopting hydrogen-powered rail transport. The project also includes dedicated hydrogen storage and refuelling facilities to support the train’s operations.
Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Modi said on X that the initiative places India among the few nations operating hydrogen-powered trains and represents an important step towards adopting cleaner technologies in the railway sector.
Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, the new train generates electricity using hydrogen fuel cells, with water being the only by-product of the process. The pilot project is expected to help Indian Railways assess the operational viability of hydrogen-powered trains while supporting the country’s long-term transition to low-emission public transport.
The train has been developed from the design stage through prototype manufacturing and consists of a 10-coach hydrogen fuel cell-based trainset powered by a 1,200-kW propulsion system. It has been approved for commercial operation at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, while its design speed is 110 kmph, and can accommodate around 2,600 passengers.
The service will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction and Sonipat, with scheduled stops at Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butana Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New.
With this development, India joins countries including Germany, Japan, China and the United States in exploring hydrogen-powered rail technology. Germany pioneered the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train with the Alstom Coradia iLint, which completed a 1,175-kilometre journey without refuelling in 2022. Japan is preparing to introduce its first hydrogen hybrid train, named Hybari, by the end of fiscal 2027, while California launched the United States’ first hydrogen-powered passenger train, Zemu, in 2024.
The pilot project is expected to provide valuable operational data on hydrogen-based railway technology and could pave the way for the wider adoption of zero-emission trains across the Indian Railways network as the country continues to invest in cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation.
