Kathmandu– In a major milestone for clean energy transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen-powered train. The service was launched from the Jind Railway Junction in Haryana, where the Prime Minister flagged off the train for its inaugural run along the 89-kilometer route connecting Jind and Sonipat. With this launch, India joins an elite group of just five nations globally capable of operating hydrogen-powered train technology.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the train is built entirely on cutting-edge indigenous technology aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Powered by a 2,400-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system, the technology generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen from the air to power the train’s motors. Because the only byproducts of this process are water and water vapor, the train emits absolutely no smoke or carbon, making it a completely eco-friendly transit solution. Furthermore, the Indian Ministry of Railways confirmed that the system has undergone strict safety testing and certification by international expert bodies, securing India’s intellectual property rights over this specific technology. To ensure seamless operations, a dedicated facility has also been established to produce hydrogen directly from water.
Looking ahead, Minister Vaishnaw noted that this versatile green technology could eventually be expanded to power other modes of transport, including water transport, small to medium-sized boats, and heavy trucks. Energy and transport experts have lauded the move as a significant step toward reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, analysts point out that since the vast majority of India’s broad-gauge railway network is already electrified, hydrogen trains will likely serve as a specialized solution for specific scenic or niche routes rather than replacing the primary grid. Experts emphasize that the long-term success and scalability of this technology in meeting India’s climate goals will heavily depend on the country’s ability to produce green hydrogen at a low cost using renewable energy sources.
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