Bharat is set to achieve another milestone in clean transportation with the launch of its first hydrogen-powered passenger train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the country’s first hydrogen train from Haryana’s Jind Railway Station on 17 July, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Indian Railways.
The 10-coach train will operate on the 89-kilometre Jind–Sonipat route, becoming not only Bharat’s first regular hydrogen-powered passenger service but also one of the first in Asia.
Unlike conventional diesel trains, the hydrogen train produces only water vapour and heat as emissions. Powered by a 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell system, it offers a cleaner and more sustainable alternative for routes that are yet to be fully electrified.
The train has been developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, showcasing Bharat’s growing capabilities in advanced railway technology. It can carry around 2,600 passengers, including standing commuters, and features air-conditioned coaches, automatic doors and modern passenger amenities.
To support the project, Indian Railways has invested ₹89 crore in dedicated infrastructure, including a hydrogen production plant and a specialised refuelling station at Jind. Equipped with 27 hydrogen cylinders, the train can travel approximately 250 kilometres on a single refuelling while covering around 356 kilometres every day through two round trips between Jind and Sonipat.
The significance of this project extends far beyond a single train.
Hydrogen-powered railways are considered one of the most promising solutions for reducing carbon emissions on non-electrified routes. While electrification remains the long-term goal, hydrogen offers a clean alternative where laying overhead electric lines is difficult or economically unviable.
With this launch, Bharat joins a select group of countries—including Germany, Japan, China and the United States—that operate hydrogen-powered passenger trains.
The project also complements Bharat’s broader clean energy strategy. Recent advances in green hydrogen production, nuclear-assisted hydrogen technology and renewable energy are creating an ecosystem where hydrogen could play a major role in the country’s future transportation network.
If the Jind–Sonipat service performs successfully, similar hydrogen trains could gradually be introduced on other suitable routes across the country, reducing dependence on diesel while making Indian Railways cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable.
The launch of Bharat’s first hydrogen train is therefore more than a technological milestone. It demonstrates how indigenous innovation, modern engineering and clean energy are coming together to shape the future of transportation in Viksit Bharat.