Running Late: India's first hydrogen train likely to be launched by June following tech snags

Hydrogen train

The launch of India's first hydrogen fuel cell train may be delayed till June following technical issues that were discovered while testing the vehicle, multiple officials aware of the development told Moneycontrol. The government had, in 2023-24, targeted to have the train up and running by December 2024.

"While testing the  train it was found that its hydrogen fuel cell capacity needs to be increased for it to operate at maximum load-carrying capacity," a senior Indian Railways official told Moneycontrol.

He added that modifications to the hydrogen train, which is expected to run on the heritage Kalka-Shimla route, will take around two-three months along with testing, following which the train will be launched for commercial use.

Originally scheduled to begin operations on the 96 kilometre Shimla-Kalka route  in Dec 2024, the train was found capable of travelling the distance on a single cell at under 80 percent load in extreme weather.

Senior officials told Moneycontrol that the train, which can carry 2,638 passengers, when operating with a load of more than 2,200 passengers in temperatures below 5 degrees celsius and above 35 degrees,  will need to run at a slower speed in order to complete the journey between Shimla and Kalka.

"The hydrogen train may struggle to operate at a top speed of 110 km/hr in the mountainous terrain with close to maximum loads in extreme weather," a second railway official said, adding that the upcoming prototype of the hydrogen train will be developed with a bigger fuel cell to address such issues.

Indian Railways is also working to fortify the train tracks between Shimla and Kalka to operate the train at speeds of around 100 km/hr.

"The railway authorities have invited executives from the renewable industry to examine the model," said another person familiar with the matter.

Manufactured by the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the hydrogen train is part of India’s broader push for zero-emission mobility. The Ministry of Railways had allocated Rs 2,800 crore in the 2023-24 financial year to develop 35 hydrogen fuel cell-based trains as part of its green energy initiatives.

Emails sent to the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Tourism, and Himachal Pradesh Tourism remained unanswered till the time of publishing.

Each hydrogen train is estimated to cost Rs 80 crore, and the Indian government has ambitious plans to expand hydrogen-powered trains in mountainous regions to promote sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. The first train will be operated by Northern Railway, and Indian Railways aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

The testing of the train has begun on the Jind-Sonipat route, and once launched, it will come with a 1,200-horsepower engine, making it the most powerful hydrogen-powered train in the world.

Hydrogen trains use hydrogen fuel cells and only release water and heat as byproducts, thereby eliminating emissions altogether. Each hour, the train will require approximately 40,000 litres of water for the necessary chemical processes. Dedicated water storage facilities will be constructed to support the operation of these trains.

With the launch of the train, India will enter an elite club comprising countries like Germany, China, and the UK, which have adopted hydrogen rail technology.

"Along with the train, concomitant on-ground infrastructure to refill hydrogen is envisioned, with an integrated hydrogen production-storage-dispensation facility. Necessary safety approvals for the facility layout from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) are in place," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Rajya Sabha last week.

"The project further establishes the commitment of Indian Railways towards advancements in alternative energy-powered train travel, thereby ensuring a cleaner and greener future for the country’s transportation sector,” the minister added.