In a significant milestone for Indian Railways, a new hydrogen powered train has been introduced which is set to begin trials in 2025. The train will operate on a 90-kilometer long route from Jind to Sonipat in Haryana. The locomotive of the hydrogen powered train was designed in the Integral Coach Factory in Tamil Nadu.
Hydrogen Powered Train Invests in Green Infrastructure
Using a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, fuel cells of the hydrogen powered train generate electricity, producing only water vapor as a by-product. This makes it an eco-friendly alternative to diesel engines and a significant step toward achieving Indian Railways’ goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Each train comes with a high price tag of Rs. 80 crores, along with an additional Rs. 70 crores required to build the necessary infrastructure for operations, especially in challenging terrains like mountains and heritage sites. Indian Railways is also working on hydrogen-based maintenance solutions, including the purchase of five hydrogen-powered tower cars at Rs. 10 crores each.
A Rs. 111.83 crore trial project is also underway, focusing on integrating hydrogen fuel cells with a DEMU rake on the Jind-Sonipat stretch.
Trial Project and Safety Measures
To ensure safety and reliability, Indian Railways has partnered with German firm TUV-SUD for independent safety evaluations. With this, India joins other countries like China, Germany, France, and Sweden, which have already adopted hydrogen train technology.
Plans of launching other hydrogen trains
If the trials prove successful, hydrogen trains are expected to expand to other routes by the end of 2025, heralding a new era of sustainable transportation.
Despite the initial costs being higher than diesel alternatives, hydrogen trains promise long-term benefits such as zero emissions and reduced air pollution. Costs are anticipated to decline as advancements in green technology and production scaling occur.
India’s adoption of hydrogen-powered trains is a significant step forward in modernizing its transportation infrastructure and moving towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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