PM Modi to launch India's first hydrogen train in Haryana on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India's first hydrogen-powered train from Jind station in Haryana on Friday. The 10-coach project combines clean on-board power generation with an integrated hydrogen rail ecosystem and extensive safety systems.

In Short

• India's first hydrogen-powered train to be flagged off from Jind, Haryana
• Train has 10 coaches and runs between Jind and Sonipat at 75 kmph
• Train marks India’s move towards cleaner rail transport and energy

India's first hydrogen-powered train will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Haryana's Jind railway station on Friday. The 10-coach train will run between Jind and Sonipat and is fitted with multi-layer safety systems that can detect hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke.

Unlike conventional electric trains that draw power from overhead lines, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainset generates electricity on board through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water vapour and heat as its only by-product. The project also includes a dedicated hydrogen storage, compression and dispensing facility at Jind, creating what officials said is India's first integrated hydrogen railway ecosystem.

"In a sense, the train once again carries its own source of power, as steam and diesel locomotives once did. But instead of burning traditional fuels, such as coal or diesel, hydrogen generates electricity inside the train using oxygen from the atmosphere, eliminating combustion and dependence on an external power supply," an official statement issued on Thursday said.

The statement said that as electricity is generated on board through clean-hydrogen technology, the train represents the greenest form of rail propulsion. "To complement this advanced propulsion system, India has equipped the train with multi-layer safety systems capable of detecting hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke," it said. The train has an operational speed of 75 kmph and a design speed of 110 kmph on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section.

Hydrogen-powered trains are still at a nascent stage globally. Germany was the first country to introduce commercial hydrogen passenger trains, while France, Italy, China, Japan and a few other countries are pursuing pilot projects or limited deployments. These trains usually have two to four coaches and are meant mainly for regional passenger services. In contrast, Indian Railways has configured its trainset as a 10-coach passenger train with a capacity of around 2,600 passengers.

The train will initially run on the Northern Railway's Jind-Sonipat section, linking Jind Junction, Gohana Junction and Sonipat, and serving intermediate stations and proposed halts including Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butane Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New. The route has been chosen to demonstrate the operational viability, safety and reliability of hydrogen-powered passenger services under regular operating conditions. The statement added that India has also set up the country's largest railway hydrogen refuelling facility at Jind, covering rolling stock, storage, dispensing infrastructure, safety systems and operational protocols.

Officials said the train and the plant have several layers of protection. "The train and the plant are fitted with devices that continuously watch for hydrogen leaks, unusual heat, flames or smoke, so any problem is caught within seconds. On top of this, non-stop ventilation keeps air moving through the train at all times, so that even if a tiny amount of hydrogen were to leak, it gets safely carried away and diluted in the open air instead of collecting anywhere," the statement said. There is also an automatic shut-off system that can cut off the hydrogen supply on its own if anything unusual is detected. The loco pilot's cabin has been specially designed for safety, with an emergency mode that allows the train to be moved to safety and a screen that shows the health of the system at all times. The Jind hydrogen plant has similar protections, including leak detectors, flame detectors, automatic shutdown systems, water sprays to control fire and fire alarms. Officials said the train underwent a series of demanding tests before it was cleared to run.

The statement said that unlike diesel locomotives, which burn fuel to generate mechanical power, a hydrogen train carries a small power plant on board in the form of a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell. Hydrogen stored in cylinders combines with oxygen from the surrounding air inside the fuel cell to produce electricity that powers the traction motors and turns the wheels. The direct by-products are water vapour and heat, with no combustion, smoke or tailpipe carbon emissions. Indian Railways is also exploring the use of hydrogen technology on heritage routes, including the Kalka-Shimla railway, using experience from the Jind-Sonipat project.

According to the statement, the flagging off of the train marks the latest chapter in how Indian Railways has powered its trains, reflecting the country's journey from coal and steam to cleaner sources of energy. It said rapid electrification over the last 12 years has reduced dependence on imported diesel and that, with more than 99 per cent of broad gauge routes electrified, Indian Railways is now taking the next step in clean rail mobility with the Jind-Sonipat hydrogen train project.

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