India Launches First Hydrogen-Powered Train on Jind–Sonipat Route, Marking a New Era in Green Rail Transport
India has officially entered the league of nations operating hydrogen-powered passenger trains with the launch of its first indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train on the Jind–Sonipat railway section in Haryana. Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 17, the project represents one of the country’s most ambitious efforts to combine clean energy with modern railway infrastructure, reinforcing Indian Railways’ long-term commitment to sustainable transportation.
The hydrogen-powered train will operate on the 89-kilometre Jind–Sonipat route under Northern Railway. Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, it generates electricity onboard through hydrogen fuel cells, where hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electrical energy. The only by-product of this process is water vapour, making the train virtually emission-free during operations and significantly reducing its environmental footprint.
Developed largely using indigenous technology under the “Make in India” initiative, the train has been designed with two hydrogen-powered driving coaches and eight passenger coaches. Each driving coach is equipped with a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell power system, making it among the most powerful hydrogen-powered passenger train configurations in the world. The train is capable of carrying approximately 2,600 passengers while maintaining operational speeds of around 75 km/h, with a higher design speed for future operations.
A major technological achievement supporting the project is the establishment of India’s largest hydrogen refuelling and storage facility at Jind. The infrastructure includes advanced hydrogen production, storage and dispensing systems, along with multiple safety mechanisms such as hydrogen leak detection, temperature monitoring, ventilation systems and automated emergency shutdown protocols. These measures address one of the key challenges associated with hydrogen mobility—safe handling of a highly combustible fuel.
The launch places India among a select group of countries—including Germany, France, China and Japan—that have successfully introduced hydrogen-powered railway technology. Globally, hydrogen trains are increasingly being viewed as an attractive alternative for railway lines where electrification through overhead wires is either economically unviable or environmentally challenging. Hydrogen propulsion offers the flexibility of diesel operations while eliminating direct carbon emissions, making it particularly suitable for regional and semi-urban railway corridors.
For Indian Railways, the hydrogen train is more than a technological demonstration. It is expected to serve as a pilot for future deployment on additional non-electrified routes, heritage railways and environmentally sensitive regions. Officials believe that successful operation on the Jind–Sonipat corridor will provide valuable operational data on fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, passenger acceptance and long-term commercial viability before wider adoption across the national railway network.
The project also aligns with India’s broader clean energy strategy, which aims to expand the use of green hydrogen across multiple sectors, including transportation, heavy industry and power generation. By integrating hydrogen technology into one of the world’s largest railway systems, the government hopes to stimulate domestic manufacturing, encourage innovation in fuel-cell technology and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels while supporting national decarbonisation goals.
Industry experts note that although hydrogen-powered trains currently involve higher capital costs than conventional diesel trains, long-term reductions in emissions, improvements in fuel technology and expanding hydrogen infrastructure could make them increasingly competitive over the coming decade. The success of the Jind–Sonipat project will therefore be closely monitored by policymakers, railway engineers and clean-energy stakeholders as India evaluates the future role of hydrogen in public transportation.
With the inauguration of its first hydrogen-powered passenger train, India has taken a significant step toward transforming its railway network into a cleaner and more sustainable transport system. The Jind–Sonipat corridor now serves not only as a new passenger service but also as a national demonstration of how emerging clean-energy technologies can reshape the future of mobility while supporting economic growth and environmental responsibility.
