Indian Railways' first hydrogen train ready for trials in major step toward green rail technology

The Minister said that the Hydrogen Train-set features many prominent elements, including a train designed and developed in India, demonstrating Indian Railways' commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Indian Railways has completed manufacturing its first hydrogen-powered train, a cutting-edge pilot project designed as per specifications from the Research, Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO), Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply, Vaishnaw said the initiative aims to demonstrate the use of hydrogen-powered technology in train operations. To support the rollout, a dedicated hydrogen production plant has been proposed in Jind, where hydrogen will be generated through electrolysis — a key component of green hydrogen production.

The Minister highlighted that the Hydrogen Train-set includes several “prominent elements,” including a fully India-designed and India-developed train, underscoring the Railways’ commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Vaishnaw stated that the newly built train is “currently the world's longest (10 coaches) and most powerful (2400 kW) hydrogen train set on a broad-gauge platform. The train comprises two Driving Power Cars (DPCs) of 1200 kW each and eight passenger coaches.

One of its defining advantages, according to the minister, is its environmentally friendly performance. He noted that the train ensures “zero CO₂ emissions; the only emission is water vapour.”

Calling the initiative a major leap toward next-generation railway fuel technology, Vaishnaw said the project involved designing the system from scratch, fabricating prototypes and developing hydrogen traction technology for Indian Railways for the first time.

He also clarified that since both the train and its enabling infrastructure have been created under a pilot programme, “a direct comparison of the cost of hydrogen-fuelled trains with established traction systems at this stage would not be fair.”

Vaishnaw added that the hydrogen train pilot underscores the Railways’ commitment to pushing clean-energy alternatives and fostering a greener, more sustainable transportation future for India.