Gurugram: India’s ambitious leap into green rail technology will soon materialise with the arrival of coaches of the country’s first hydrogen-powered train for a trial run at Jind railway junction in Haryana. The indigenously developed train, which will operate on the Jind-Sonepat route, is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Dr Krishan Middha, who represents the Jind assembly seat, told ThePrint Monday.
At the heart of this project is a Rs 120-crore hydrogen gas plant constructed over 2,000 square metres at Jind railway junction, where testing is currently underway. The facility will produce hydrogen through electrolysis to fuel what Indian Railways proudly touts as the world’s longest and most powerful hydrogen train set on a broad gauge platform.
The 10-coach train comprises two driving power cars of 1,200 kW each, totalling 2,400 kW, alongside eight passenger cars.
The train engines will emit only water vapour and steam instead of smoke, producing zero CO2 emissions.
Bharat’s Hydrogen Journey !
For the first time in India a hydrogen-powered train is set for its final commissioning, a landmark that showcases India’s rise as a technological powerhouse, driving innovation on the global stage. 🇮🇳#HydrogenTrain pic.twitter.com/RGwt5COKIC
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) August 13, 2025
A senior official of the Northern Railways at Jind junction told ThePrint over the phone that so far “oscillation coaches” of the hydrogen train have arrived at Jind, and are being fitted with certain installations.
Once installation work is complete a trial run would be conducted.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on 10 December last year that the train has been “designed and developed in India, demonstrating Indian Railways’ commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
The train will cover the approximately 90-kilometre route between Jind-Sonepat at speeds of 110-140 kilometres per hour.
One kilogram of hydrogen will deliver mileage equivalent to roughly 4.5 litres of diesel, making maintenance more cost-effective. The entire 180-kilometre journey will require 360 kilograms of hydrogen.
The Railways official quoted said an underground storage facility with a capacity of approximately 3,000 kilograms of gas has been constructed at the plant. The operation will require 40,000 litres of water per hour, for which rainwater from station roofs will be channelled to the plant.
The train employs hybrid technology with renewable energy storage systems, including lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors.
In a controlled process, hydrogen burns with oxygen assistance inside fuel cells, generating electricity that charges the batteries to power the train. The only byproducts are steam and water. The quieter operation promises passengers a more comfortable travel experience, while maintenance costs for fuel cells are projected to be lower than conventional systems.
Dr Middha told The Print that PM Modi will also inaugurate the Jind railway junction along with commissioning the hydrogen train, though the exact date remains to be announced. Initially operating between Jind and Sonepat, the service will be expanded subsequently.
The project, developed on a pilot basis according to specifications framed by the Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO), involved first-stage design, prototype manufacturing, and the maiden development of hydrogen traction technology by Indian Railways.
Vaishnaw cautioned in his reply in the Lok Sabha that direct cost comparisons with established traction systems would be premature at this pilot stage, as the hydrogen train-set and its infrastructure have been developed on a pilot basis. He added that the project “establishes the commitment of Indian Railways towards advancements in alternative energy-powered train travel, thereby ensuring a cleaner and greener future for the country’s transportation sector”.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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