Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting,

and Electronics & Information Technology

Prayagraj, 21 July (HS): The Indian Railways has always been

intertwined with India's progress. From connecting distant regions to enabling

economic growth and social mobility, the railway network has evolved

continuously to meet the aspirations of a progressing nation. Today, as India

advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, that evolution is being shaped

not only by faster trains and modern infrastructure, but also by an equally

important commitment to build one of the world's most sustainable railway

systems.

Over the past decade, Indian Railways has pursued an

integrated strategy that brings together large-scale electrification, renewable

energy, energy-efficient infrastructure and indigenous technological

innovation. More than 99% of India's Broad Gauge network is now electrified, a

huge step in cutting our dependence on fossil fuels while making operations

more efficient. Alongside this, renewable energy has quietly become part of how

the railways run: as of February 2025, we had commissioned 553 MW of solar

power, 103 MW of wind power, and 100 MW of round-the-clock hybrid renewable

capacity. All of this has set the stage for what comes next, a new generation

of technology built for the future.

The flagging off of India's first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train

between Jind and Sonipat by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will mark

a defining milestone in this journey. Launching the National Green Hydrogen

Mission, the Prime Minister observed, Green Hydrogen has become a major

basis of the world's transition towards clean energy. This vision is

exactly what's driving India's push to build a strong green hydrogen ecosystem,

one that strengthens our energy security, encourages innovation, and speeds up

sustainable development. Indian Railways is proud to be part of this national

mission, having developed indigenous hydrogen-powered rail technology from

scratch.

The introduction of this new train marks a new technological

capability for the country; one built through years of designing, testing, and

problem-solving by our engineers. The Research Designs and Standards

Organisation (RDSO), of Indian Railways has built expertise spanning across

design, system integration, testing, safety validation, maintenance, and

hydrogen operations. This institutional capability will remain one of the

project's greatest contributions long after the first train begins commercial

service.

Designed and built entirely in India, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Train reflects the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. It's a 10-coach broad-gauge

trainset, two Driving Power Cars and eight passenger coaches, with a combined

output of 2,400 KW. In its December 2025 reply to the Lok Sabha, the Ministry

of Railways described it as “the world's longest (10 coaches) and most powerful

(2400 KW) Hydrogen Train-set on Broad Gauge platform” at the time, calling it

“a major step in development of next generation fuel technology in Railways.”

So how does it actually work? Hydrogen stored onboard is fed

into advanced fuel cells, where it reacts electrochemically with oxygen from

the air to generate electricity. That electricity runs through power converters

before reaching the traction motors, with onboard batteries stepping in to

support acceleration and changing operational conditions. During fuel-cell

operation, there is no carbon-dioxide exhaust, with water vapour being the

principal emission. When hydrogen itself is produced through electrolysis using

renewable electricity, the environmental benefits become even more significant,

making hydrogen an important pillar of India's clean-energy future.

The innovation extends well beyond the trainset itself. At

Jind, Indian Railways has established an integrated hydrogen ecosystem where

hydrogen is compressed, stored and dispensed for railway operations. The

facility has been designed with a hydrogen storage capacity of approximately

3,000 kilograms, while dispensing systems operate at pressures of up to 500

bar. Together, storage systems, refuelling infrastructure and operational

protocols transform the Jind–Sonipat corridor into one of India's first

integrated hydrogen rail ecosystems.

Before entering passenger service, the train successfully

underwent an extensive programme of validation. Performance trials, load-box

testing, oscillation trials, radio-frequency testing, emergency brake-distance

evaluation and comprehensive safety assessments have been completed to ensure

that the technology performs reliably under different operating conditions.

The train will connect Jind City, Pandu Pindara, Lalit

Khera, Bhambhewa, Ishapur Kheri, Butana, Khandrai, Gohana, Rabhra, Lath, Mohana

Haryana, Barwasni and Sonipat, bringing advanced, cleaner mobility to

communities across the route. Yet the larger significance of the project

extends far beyond a single railway corridor. Like every pioneering initiative,

this is a pilot project intended to build knowledge, technical expertise and

institutional capability. Its direct comparisons with conventional traction

systems at this stage cannot fully capture the value created through first-time

design, prototype manufacturing and technology development. The experience

gained today will help shape tomorrow's innovations.

During the review of the Hydrogen Train project at Shakur

Basti on World Environment Day 2026, we reaffirmed our commitment to making

Indian Railways progressively greener and more environmentally responsible.

Sustainable mobility is no longer an aspiration; it is becoming a defining

principle of how Indian Railways plans, builds and operates its infrastructure.

India's first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train is therefore much

more than an engineering achievement. It is a reflection of the ingenuity of Indian

scientists, engineers and railway professionals who have transformed an

ambitious idea into reality. It demonstrates that Atmanirbhar Bharat is not

merely about manufacturing within the country; it is about building the

capability to imagine, design and deliver technologies that meet global

benchmarks.

As this train rolls out from Jind towards Sonipat, it'll be

carrying more than passengers. It'll be carrying the confidence of a nation

that believes in its own ability to innovate, the strength of homegrown

engineering, and a genuine commitment to building infrastructure that supports

both growth and the environment.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi