India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train Flagged Off by Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train from Jind railway station in Haryana, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push towards green mobility.

The 10-coach train, running on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route, will operate as a pilot project. With this launch, India joins a select group of nations operating hydrogen-fuelled trains. Hydrogen is widely regarded as one of the cleanest fuels, producing only water vapour and heat as by-products with zero carbon emissions during operation.

The train departs Jind at 7:40 AM and reaches Sonipat at 9:40 AM. On the return, it leaves Sonipat at 10:40 AM and arrives in Jind at 1:00 PM. It runs six days a week and stops at 12 intermediate stations including Jind City, Gohana, and Barwasni. The train has 682 seats and a total capacity of around 2,600 passengers. Its operational speed is 75 kmph, though it reached up to 120 kmph during trials.

Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system with two driving power cars generating 1,200 kW each, the train is supported by a dedicated green hydrogen plant in Jind for refuelling.

This initiative is part of Indian Railways’ broader efforts under the ‘Hydrogen for Heritage’ programme to explore zero-emission alternatives, especially for non-electrified or heritage routes. The project, involving significant investment in hydrogen production, storage, and infrastructure, positions India as a key player in sustainable rail transport. The launch comes alongside other development projects in Haryana worth thousands of crores, underscoring the government’s focus on clean energy and infrastructure growth.