India’s first hydrogen-fuelled train is set to be launched later this month by the Ministry of Railways.
Manufactured by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the hydrogen train is part of India’s broader push for zero-emission mobility. The Ministry of Railways has allocated Rs 2,800 crore ($337m) in the 2023/24 fiscal year to develop 35 hydrogen fuel cell-based trains as part of its green energy initiatives.
The first train is expected to enter service by 25 March, according to U Subba Rao, General Manager at ICF. “We are working on the flagship project for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell train set. Hydrogen fuel cell coaches are currently being produced at ICF,” he stated.
India has also developed what it claims is the world’s most powerful hydrogen train engine, with 1,200 horsepower (HP) – more than twice the engine capacity of similar trains launched elsewhere.
The first hydrogen train will be operated by Northern Railway’s Delhi Division, running on the 89-kilometre Jind–Sonipat route.
India has joined a growing list of countries investing in hydrogen rail technology as part of efforts to decarbonise transport. Germany launched the world’s first hydrogen train fleet in 2022, while France, China, and the UK are also trialling hydrogen-powered locomotives as part of their rail modernisation strategies.
