Trending 
India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train, becoming one of a handful of countries testing the technology as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and cut reliance on fossil fuels in rail transport.
The 10-coach train, launched on Friday, operates along an 89-kilometre route between Jind and Sonipat in the northern state of Haryana. It is powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system, which officials said is the most powerful of its kind fitted to a train.
Hydrogen-powered trains generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in fuel cells, producing only water and steam as emissions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flagged off the inaugural journey, described the launch as an important milestone for India’s drive towards self-reliance and sustainable development.
“This is a very significant day in the direction of self-reliant India and sustainable development,” Modi said.
The Railway Ministry said the train was developed in India, although senior officials acknowledged that some key components, including the fuel cells, were imported. The ministry also inaugurated a hydrogen storage and refuelling facility in Jind with a capacity of about 3,000 kilograms to support the operation of hydrogen-powered trains.
Officials said the pilot project cost about $12 million, making it significantly more expensive than a comparable conventional rail service, but expressed confidence that costs would decline as the technology advances.
With the launch, India joins countries including Germany, Japan, China and the United States in testing or operating hydrogen-powered trains.
The project forms part of India’s wider railway modernisation programme, which has seen billions of dollars invested in infrastructure upgrades, safety improvements and network expansion.
The country has also introduced its domestically built Vande Bharat trains and is constructing its first high-speed rail line using Japan’s Shinkansen technology, with the first section expected to begin operations in 2027.
